Maine-ly useful bits and pieces.

As Jimmy heads off to Hawaii for some ‘research’, I respond by visiting the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport, ME and experiencing the brand new aquarium and its “human bubble” feature where you can almost become one of the fish. What does this have to do with Happy Hour? Well, nothing. There is liquid involved. Can you ferment fish-water? But Jimmy gets to go to Hawaii and I wanted some sort of aquatic adventure. Thus, I got up close and personal with some brook trout. It’s a great break from the outlet shopping and will keep cranky kids and adults grinning and distracted. It is next door to the Jameson Tavern, does that count? Speaking of the Jameson…

 

A follow up to our earlier entry on the Jameson Tavern ghostly activity (History and a Haunting): 

I had the pleasure of talking to Christina, who was working the bar when I dropped in this time. She shared with me a first hand story of a mustard jar literally flinging itself across the entrance to the bar area in front of a startled group of employees. Was it the spirit of the young girl, Emily, or the mysterious man in the hat apparition that was responsible? The Happy Hour team will be making return visits to get the latest. Who knows? We may bring our cameras and spend a late night here.  Stay tuned!

One of the most renowned beer bars in Maine is The Great Lost Bear. A decent alternative in the Old Port of Portland, though, is $3 Dewey’s (www.threedollardeweys.com). Contrary to its name, the beer is not three dollars. However, the selection is very good, with roughly three dozen taps and an equal number of bottles. The emphasis is on Maine and New England beers, including the rare but highly sought after Cadillac Mountain Stout. Decent food (I’m told the chowder is great) and free popcorn will keep you full and happy as you work your way through the list (there is a full bar and a nice single malt selection for non beer drinkers). Its convenient location makes it an easy and welcome stop while exploring the shops and restaurants of Old Port without having to get in the car and drive elsewhere.

Lastly, if you’re spending some time in Maine, it’s good to know that the grocery stores not only sell beer and wine, but have a full liquor selection, as well. Many have a surprisingly complete selection and feature local beer and wine.  Just a little tip to make provisioning that much easier.  Cheers!

LEMP. A Haunting History.

“This Lemp’s for You.”  If fate had played a kinder hand to the once dominant Lemp family brewing dynasty, we could indeed have been hearing that slogan instead of the famous version serenading us from our televisions today. Instead, the family suffered a tortuous series of tragedies, some of their own making, and has all but disappeared from most people’s memories. The story of their family and its rise and fall reminiscent of the most classic tragedies, is told by Stephen P. Walker in his incredibly researched book, Lemp: The Haunting History.

In 1840, German immigrant Adam Lemp opened his Western Brewery in St. Louis based on the popularity of the beer he had been brewing on a smaller scale in his grocery. In those days, brewers were much like neighborhood bakers, with local patrons picking beer up on their rounds of errands. Lemp’s decision to open a brewery was forward thinking, and took the operation to levels not commonly seen in those days. The brewery flourished, then more so once Lemp’s son, William, took control of the company. Under his leadership, the brewery grew with astounding speed, and he quickly moved to a larger facility to increase production. He chose a parcel of land directly above a series of caves his father had used to store beer. By the turn of the century, the now named William J. Lemp Brewing Co. covered 11 city blocks and produced 500,000 barrels of beer a year with distribution throughout all of North America and reaching Australia and Europe. The brewery produced six beers, the most known today being Falstaff. At this point the Lemp’s were larger and more influential than the Anheuser- Busch Brewery, who began business nearly two decades after they did.

Tragedy entered the family when Frederick Lemp, William’s heir apparent, died suddenly at age 28. Disconsolate, William fell into a deep depression and took his own life in 1904. The family soldiered on, but the tide had turned and time began to pass them by. Then the advent of Prohibition devastated the family business and they were forced to sell off assets at alarmingly low returns. William Lemp Jr., who had stepped into the leadership role after the deaths of his father and brother, became a high roller in St. Louis society and his divorce in 1920 provided scandalous gossip for the entire city. However, it was the disaster of Prohibition that defeated him. He, also, took his own life in 1922, as his sister Elsa had also done in 1920.

Despite the efforts of William Lemp III to re-introduce the brewery after Prohibition, the attempt failed. He died tragically in 1943 at age 42 of a cerebral hemorrhage. Another brother, Charles, also committed suicide in 1949.  The famous label of Falstaff Beer was purchased and continued to be sold for a while under different owners until ultimately fading away. 

All of this is told in detailed and fascinating accounts, often through written first-hand entries, by Walker. Letters of the Lemps themselves are quoted and newspaper articles of the time are reprinted. Walker also includes many examples of the famous Lemp advertising art and intricate descriptions of the lavish lifestyle and homes of the family. It’s a fascinating look at a chapter of American history, as well as brewing history, that is often overlooked.

Walker concludes with some accounts of ghostly goings on at the Lemp Mansion, which is now open as a bed and breakfast (www.lempmansion.com). Considering the history of the family, it’s almost to be expected that they would continue to haunt the scene of their greatest triumphs and failures. We’ll be visiting here with our cameras, no doubt.

A great read and highly recommended:

        4 and a half pints out of 5!

        Unfortunately, the book is out of print, but readily available atwww.beerbooks.com . A great resource for anyone interested in any aspect of the brewing industry.

The BAR EXAM.

Greetings MUGers and others!  Do what you will, but can you pass...

The Bar Exam?

 

1.   What Spring Street watering hole is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of Mickey, a former patron?

2.   Which historic Union Square neighborhood bar has been featured in THE DEVIL’S OWN and BULLETS OVER BROADWAY?

3.   What midtown institution, dating from the 1930’s, welcomes drinkers with a large waving porcine mascot?

4.   Where did Thomas Edison stay, and become a regular, while designing a power station in lower Manhattan? 

5.   True or False:  The last of the original early 20th century outdoor beer gardens in New York City is located on the Lower East Side.

6.   Which venerable Manhattan bar is known for not admitting women until 1970, and not giving them their own restroom until 1986?

7.   What the heck is a “shebeen”, and what well known Third Ave. pub incorporates the word into its name?

8.   Where did the real Popeye Doyle, of THE FRENCH CONNECTION fame, often stop for a drink while near the Brooklyn Bridge?

9.   What mostly affectionate nickname did Toots Shor give to patrons at his now gone but world renowned bar on 51st St. ?

10.  Where in today’s financial district did General George Washington bid farewell to his officers at the conclusion of the Revolutionary War?

Answers:

1.   The Ear Inn

2.   Old Town Bar & Restaurant

3.   Rudy’s Bar & Grill

4.   The Paris

5.   FALSE. The Beer Garden at Bohemia Hall is in Astoria, Queens.

6.   McSorley’s Old Ale House

7.   “Shebeen” is an illicit pub or bar as in: Molly’s Pub & Restaurant, Shebeen.

8.   The Bridge Café 

9.   Crumbums

10.        Fraunces Tavern

Thanks for stopping by!  Cheers!

The Great Pumpkin - alive and well.

Yes, the Great Pumpkin is alive and well, and at least on Oct. 19, had taken up residence in beautiful Nashua, NH. Inside a bottle. A number of bottles, actually. That night saw the initial offering from www.beerencounters.com, The Great Pumpkin Ale beer tasting and Halloween Party. That’s how I found myself sipping seasonal brews with Elvis (he’s alive!!), a cross dressing Hugh Hefner and Playmate (eventual winners of the costume contest), a Green Monster (go sox!), and various other vampires, ghosts, ghoulies, soldiers, nurses, and an intriguing Texas Hold’em gal.

As it should be with an event that bills itself as a beer tasting, the beers were the stars of the night. I worked my way through as many of the choices possible, but I’m only human, so I couldn’t try then all. The Magic Hat Brewery (www.magichat.net), one of our favorites, was there with their Circus Boy (an excellent hefeweizen), Jinx (a seasonal English Ale that’s big with hints of peat-smoked whiskey malts) and their ubiquitous No 9. I had a nice chat with Magic Hat’s Melissa about how one goes from being a dissatisfied bartender, to being a very satisfied employee of one of the funkiest and most imaginative breweries around. Next I sampled some of the offerings from Milly’s Tavern (www.millystavern.com)   from Manchester, NH. I’m sad to say they don’t sell off premises yet because these were some of the most intriguing beers of the night. Their Pumpkin and Scotch Ales were very popular, but I was most taken with their Burton Ale, a harder to find variety, that knocked my socks off. Big and bold. I had a great chat with Milly’s Head Brewer, Dan Rudy, ranging from beer to eco-friendly brewing, to leaving a “green footprint” to the beauty of New England and Maine, in particular. We should all keep an eye on Dan. I have a feeling he’ll continue to brew imaginative quality beer and garner much attention.

After a break to cruise the chocolate buffet (decked out with appropriately creepy holiday décor) I dove back into the beer…figuratively. Next up was another of our favorites, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (www.dogfish.com), who brought along their Festina Peche, a neo-Berliner Weisse brewed with real peaches and delivering intense tartness. Allen Reitz from Dogfish Head assured me that after three sips I wouldn’t be able to put it down, and he was right. This is a fantastic, fruity, surprisingly refreshing beer. What can I say about the Dogfish Punkin Ale? I love the stuff. A full-bodied ale brewed with real pumpkin (many breweries use pumpkin flavoring. Brewing with real pumpkin is difficult and costly) and brown sugar. They call it the “anti-pumpkin pie ale”. It’s a great autumn, sit-by-the-fire beer. Next I tried the Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale, Anheuser-Busch’s attempt to step into some newer craft-brew inspired styles. It’s really not bad but suffered in comparison to some excellent smaller brews next to it. Still, we should applaud A-B for being willing to give this a shot. It would be easy to sit back, pump out the Bud and Bud Light, and call it a day. I was winding down by now. I’m Irish, but I’m human.  However, on I went to the Saranac offerings (www.saranac.com). Here I discovered, much to my surprise, that I enjoyed the Pomegranate Wheat. I’m on record as saying that I never cared for wheat beers. I must have had an early bad experience, because I’m consistently discovering imaginative variations on this style and enjoying them. My thanks to Jeb Moore from Saranac for the nudge toward this beer and all the tips on the Saranac Brewery, I hope we’re able to visit there soon. This unfiltered wheat had a slightly tart finish and a light body. It’s made with real pomegranate juice. Pomegranate is good for you. I suspect that this beer actually extends life expectancy.

Sadly, I missed out on the Stone Cat and John Harvard offerings, most likely because I was chatting too much with Jim Carleton and his wife Maria, brewers for those respective breweries (Stone Cat is produced by Mercury Brewing Co.). However, I did get to close the night with some of Cape Ann Brewing Company’sPumpkin Stout. I’ve been searching for this limited release since Jeremy at Cape Ann told me about it. It is, in a word, fantastic. An imaginative combination of styles and flavors, I’d never had a pumpkin stout before, but the chocolate/coffee notes of the stout work extremely well with the nutmeg/cinnamon of the pumpkin. I hope this reappears next year in even larger quantities. A real winner from Cape Ann and very popular on the night (also a 2007 New England Microbrew champion).

In all, the lads over at beerencounters.com put on a great party. Mike Rego, Jim Messier, Dan Archambault, and Matt Zukowski started the company to bring people together and share their passion for quality beers (one of them is a detective, but I won’t tell you who it is so you’re on your best behavior when you meet them). The smiles on the faces of their guests at the end of the evening were proof that this night was a success.  Congratulations, guys, you’re off to a great start. Check out their slick site which is developing even as you read this. Future events will include gatherings for St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo. In the growing community of New England brewers and beer enthusiasts, Beer Encounters’ focus on bringing interesting people and excellent beer together bodes well for future success.

Boo.  Cheers!

The Communicator steals one.

    Okay, so I’m shamelessly lifting one from Mark here.  He submitted this to me today as part of another entry, and I couldn’t help but think that it needed to stand on its own instead.  This is the crux of it all, folks: Keep looking and places like this just jump out at you.  We’re always in development here at Happy Hour, so allow me to reiterate Happy Hour Commandment #1:

1.  The perfect bar is everywhere.  So go there.

    Leave nothing to chance, people: That place you’ve always walked by?  Saunter in.  Look around.  Have some onion rings and ask the bartender what’s good here.  Most of all - Enjoy Yourself.

    Here’s Mark’s piece.  Very nice.      - Jimmy

    “Another surprising thing happened to me today. Once more doing some Happy Hour research (I love my job), I was sitting in mid-town Manhattan in what can only be called a dive bar. The traffic and noise of New York on a weekend banged along outside, but where I sat things were fairly quiet. Not many of us were at the bar, but at the end sat a tough looking character that obviously came in often. He asked for a drink on account. “On account of what?” came the joking reply from the bartender. “On account of I’m broke”, he said. He was on his second drink when I left not having paid a dime. The bartender told him she knew he was good for it. When was the last time you saw that? And in New York, of all places. ‘Third places’ are out there, we just need to keep our eyes open. Happy Hunting.”

The Historian Speaks: Pub Culture.

 

So many people have asked us, “How did you come up with the idea for Happy Hour”? Here’s a go at explaining it.

I’ve always been fascinated by the “pub culture”, as I’ve referred to it; what matters is not so much simply a place to go and drink, but a place that serves and helps to create a community.  Some time ago, I came across Kevin C. Kearns’ wonderful book “Dublin Pub Life and Lore” and was hooked (It’s a great read, I recommend it highly).  Mr. Kearns had conducted interviews with a generation of old time regulars in Dublin’s colorful and disappearing pub scene.  The world he explored of pintmen, publicans and oddball behavior had me hooked. But that way of life is fading:  Why?

Recently, I came across author Ray Oldenburg’s “The Great Good Place” which deals with why we need places like pubs, taverns, and café’s in our lives and communities. He calls them “third places” (our homes and work being the first and second) and lays out a convincing argument as to why we need a place free from the expectations and responsibilities of the first two. The cast of characters we meet at home and at work changes little, but the cast of a “third place” can change greatly. Also, in a third place we are free to be ourselves, or create a self we choose. Roles can be dissolved. A lawyer can sit elbow to elbow with a mailman, an artist, a student, a waiter. Roles we play on a daily basis can be abandoned and we are welcomed on new terms.

Not all bars and pubs are third places. It takes more than a liquor license to create them. It takes character and characters; conversation and debate. It takes a willingness to be open and include newcomers while enjoying “the regulars”. Sadly, in our world now, these places are becoming rarer as we develop communities that make no place for a “local”. Subdivisions often create neighborhoods of people who share a zip code and little else, isolated in their homes without a third place to bring them together.  And let’s not even begin down the road of the effects of corporate meddling on the independent pub owner.

So Happy Hour came about, in part, to find some of these “third places” and tell their stories. We are the three good friends who want to tell you the stories of the people, the places, the drink and food that are more than just a pick up joint or a business expense. Places that create something unique, weird, funny, and meaningful.

They say the best stories are true. There are countless Happy Hour destinations out there. We want to show you the “third places” you’ll tell your friends about. Maybe you’ll find your own local. Or maybe we’ll all just have some fun.   Cheers!