archaeologicalnews:

New study unveils archaeobotanical evidence of #beer brewing in Iron Age #France

Evidence of beer making in Mediterranean France, as far back as the 5th century BC, has been unearthed by Laurent Bouby from the CNRS - Centre de Bio-Archeologie et d’Ecology in Montepellier, France, and colleagues….

Notes from the Field:

“Here’s one from Brutopia on Rue Crescent in Montreal. The Scottish Ale on the left was kind of meh (so of course, I ordered that). The blond creme ale on the right was really fantastic. I never tasted anything like it before. Again, Sean’s Blackberry did not make the best pic. I’m working on it.

I stayed out of the beer-bars after that to avoid the French-Canadian holiday of Saint Patrick’s day, which lasted four days (Bonne Fete a St. Patrick!). I didn’t want to get barfed on.”

-StevieT

Border-Love: The Eagle Soars Over The Maple Leaf (Forever)

It appears that the wingnuts in Arizona could learn a thing or two from the neighborly love happening up north. There’s no walls being built up there! There are a bunch of Quebequois crossing the border by bicycle, and pleasant homes flying Maple Leaf flags alongside the stars and stripes, and restaurant signs reading “Bienvenue Canadiens!” (Really, signs in another language, welcoming border crossers, take that Taco Bell.) 

But…what about the beer? Well, it goes something like this. Upstate New York: I struck out. 3 breweries attempted in the Plattsburg area – and they are all gone/out of business/burned down. In Glens Falls, Davidson Brothers Brewing Company has tasty beers…that oddly all taste alike. Hmm…but their T shirts are cool!

The real beer heaven seems to be in Burlington Vermont, a magical town where hemp necklaces and Birkenstocks still make the cut, and the beer establishments (Magic Hat, The Alchemist, Otter Creek) sound more like titles of children’s story books than breweries. So put in your dread locks, jump in your VW Bug, drive over to the Vermont Pub & Brewery,(warning: They will NOT let you refill your growler here, they will try to get you to buy one pre-filled…I guess eco friendly only goes so far in VT) order yourself a Vermont cheese sampler and Franco-friendly Forbidden Fruit. After exclaiming, “Moi, je l’aime bien! Mais, c’est super genial quoi!” you can make your way to the Vermont Homebrew Supply and do some experimenting yourself.