Courage
Throughout Saturday night, the name "Courage" jumped out from among the open tabs on the till. When the customer came to settle up he seemed suitably posh, so I asked whether he was any relation to the Courage family. "Direct line", he replied.
We had a chat about the fate of his family's beers, now brewed by brand owners Wells & Youngs (an acquisition from S&N that I wrote about back in January 2007). He seemed rather pleased that Courage Best and Directors Bitter are now in the hands of a proper British ale brewer. His father - as head of the Courage family - had been invited to the Eagle Brewery in Bedford to oversee production of the first batch there. Apparently the recipes are now closer to what they were in the beers' heyday.
I haven't drunk a single drop of either of the Courage beers since Wells & Young's started brewing them, despite both turning up in my favourite Young's pubs in London. So I couldn't comment, which - in the context of our conversation and my attempt to big myself up as some kind of beer aficionado - was a bit embarrassing, really.
24 comments:
Don't bother - you're not missing anything.
When I was at university in Norwich back in the very early Eighties our local was a Courage tied house. The beers had an "OK but not fantastic" reputation back then, but the landlord of our local really knew his beer - it's fair to say that he was a bit of a "beer bore" but the upside of this was that he knew how to present cask ale in perfect condition. Nearly 30 years later I still remember his Courage Best as some of the finest beer I've ever had. It was 50p a pint too!
I thought you were closed at weekends ?
I should have been at W&Y today with the CAMRA Investment Club for a visit, a few beers and laughs but my life got overtaken by events. I ended up pickling over 1000 eggs for Chelmsford Summer Beer festival in July and working on Pub Guides for Prague & Pilsen for the end of the week.
Funny old day but still no wiser on the old Courage brands.
CHEERS! Podge
www.podgebeer.co.uk
Yes, I do close at weekends, but I hire out the pub for private functions most Saturday nights. Wedding receptions, engagement parties, 30ths and 40ths mainly.
What's interesting (and very gratifying) is how many of those bookings come because the organiser is a real ale fan. Indeed, someone who reads the blog had his 40th here (hi Tony).
"Apparently the recipes are now closer to what they were in the beers' heyday."
Hmm, caramel and hop extract?
"Nearly 30 years later I still remember his Courage Best as some of the finest beer I've ever had. It was 50p a pint too!"
That's almost bang-on a fiver in today's money. Doesn't sound like such a great deal.
Funny you should mention Courage. I've just been looking through some of their WW I brewing records. What an exciting life I lead.
Here's a question: what's the connection between the Courage and Whitbread families?
The connection between Courage and Whitbread ?
I would probably imagine the Conservative Party.
"That's almost bang-on a fiver in today's money. Doesn't sound like such a great deal".
Nonsense, as if students could afford the equivalent of £5 a pint, even if we did get grants back then!
Official stats are that the RPI was at 270.2 in Sept 1980, rising to 384.5 by Jan 87. It was then rebased to 100 and has risen to 211.3 by April 2009. Based on those numbers 50p in Sept 80 is equivalent to £1.54 now.
I have been trying to locate records and photographs of the Bristol Courage site, unsucessfully. This is because I run The Cornubia, which has strong links with the Courage brewery and site, and indeed for many years was the privatew hospitality pub for the brewery. If anybody can help me, please could you contact me. Thanks.
What happened to Stonch?
Ron - in answer to your question, they both started breweries.
You can pop my prize in the post.
THE VAUX
To (not) answer Ron's question, I don't know the Courage-Whitbread family link but someone told me recently that the Barclay in Barclay Perkins was from the family who established Barclays Bank.
Knut - I don't think you're even allowed to ask that question.
The whole site is being rebranded and we're all meant to act as though it was called Jeffrey's blog all along!!
THE VAUX
Vaux Pops, you're allowed to ask the question, but the answer's a little prosaic: I've just decided not to use a pseudonym anymore in the title of the blog as there's no need. Indeed there hasn't been for a while.
Traditionally pseudonyms have only been used by writers when they need to protect their identity (or their gender). In my case that doesn't apply so why would I do so? I think the use of "usernames" is one of the things that makes the internet wanky...
RE; wanky, I agree, but like hating MP's some thing are almost compulsory regards of reality.....
michaelnotloveleedshatebates
Had a pint of Courage recently...it was rubbish.
I have to have a username because my real name is Brad Thrust.
My dad was a 70's porn star.
Mock away - I'm used to it.
I feel inclined to say. I think that hiding behind any kind of avitar whilst expressing opinions that could affect somebody's present or future is f*u*cking cowardly. I understand kids and teens doing it, but after that, grow up and grow some balls*
*or the Female equivalent.
Stonch
You don't seem to understand.
Stonch is not just your 'pseudonym'.
It's your brand.
If Iggy Pop had suddenly changed his name back to James Osterberg, people would have had a thing or two to say.
If Sting suddenly put out releases under Gordon Sumner, he'd get a few comments.
And if BrewDog suddenly changed its name to Ye Olde Goblin Trots Ale, you'd all have a few words to say on the subject.
So get with the program.
THE VAUX
As an aside to the name debate, now your hapy to name the pub and yourself don't you think a direct link to your pub website on here and some instructions/directions might be useful for those (in the 1500 day regulars) wishing to pop in sometime...yes I realise a quick look ion Beerintheevening would sort it but still as you say, customer service should always be good and that includes before they find you. Just an idea.
O, doesn't look like anyone's going to get it. Both the Whitbreads and Courages were Huguenots..
Yes, Barclay's bank was founded by someone from the brewing family.
Dave25's fond memories of drinking well-kept Courage in Norwich reminded me of the oddness of a Norwich chap I knew called Wolfe, who owned The Reindeer brewpub (Norwich) & later the Wolf Brewery (Attleborough) - he told me that his desert-island pint was the well-served Courage (Best I think) that came from the pub at the end of his road.
I think I can honestly say I've never had a tasty pint of either of their beers, even at the brewery (where you'd think it might be served at its best).
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