In 1814 the Meux Brewery of London experienced the catastrophic failure of a 120,000 gallon beer aging tank. The tank released almost all the beer instantly and the surge burst the walls of the brewhouse. Spilling into the street the flood killed 8 people “..by drowning, poisoning, by fumes and drunkenness.” As beer flowed down …
Tag Archives: Newspaper
Dangers of “Cold Small Beer”
Next time you think about cracking a can of Budweiser, consider this tale from 1724. An unusual grave marker located in Winchester Cathedral, UK. A memorial to Thomas Thetcher who died on the 12th of May in 1764, in part it reads that he “…died of a violent fever contracted by drinking Small Beer when …
Hot Toddy
The traditional hot toddy formula is simple: Start with a hot cup of tea, add lemon and honey, then a bit of whiskey. This is certain to make even the worst cold feel just a little better. The toddy is believed to have been invented in Scotland sometime in the eighteenth century. It was a …
Martha Washington’s Shrub
In the drink world, a shrub is a concentrated syrup that combines fruit, sugar, and vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is the most common base for shrubs, and herbs and spices are often added to create interesting flavor combinations. By the 18th Century, making shrub with no vinegar was considered passé but vinegar shrubs will make …
Lemonade
The earliest record of the precursor to lemonade hails from the Mediterranean coast of medieval Egypt. Kashkab was made from fermented barley (like beer) combined with mint, rue, black pepper and citron. Thanks to Jewish books like the Cairo Genizah, we know that Egypt traded and exported bottles of the sugary lemon juice concoction throughout …
Historical Tidbits — Coup of 18 Brumaire
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. November 9, 1799 – Napoleon Bonaparte become First Consul of France On November 9, 1799 (18 Brumaire in the French Revolutionary calendar) Napoleon Bonaparte executed a coup d’état and …
Historical Tidbits — Edmund Halley
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. Edmund Halley, England’s most significant astronomer, was born November 8, 1656 Edmond Halley was born on November 8, 1656, in Haggerston, England to a well-to-do merchant family. His father was …
Historical Tidbits — New York Weekly Journal
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. November 5, 1733 – The New York Weekly Journal became the first newspaper regularly published in North America. One year later, John Peter Zenger, its printer and publisher was …
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The Hawthorne Fence
Early American settlers enjoyed fortifying their drinks. Stone fences mix hard cider and rum, shrubs mix wine with switchel, rattleskulls mix rum with beer, and the coo woo even fortifies brandy with rum. Rum, whiskey, and other spirits were staple goods produced to help farmers ship bulky products like corn and sugar to distant markets. …
Beer Tax
On October 28, 1644 – Concerned citizens of New Amsterdam (New York City) protested a new tax on Beer. They pleaded that, “…this will probably have to be paid by the poor, who are unable to procure beer for the sick and wounded….” Beer Taxes were a constant complaint of Dutch New Yorkers. It and …
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 