Chapter 29: Cold Beer. A Difference Of Cultures
There was one issue that soon became apparent. The demand for US-style beer became insatiable. There were enough British movie technicians there, however, there were a lot more 'yanks' about to make an impact. This was not true of all the Americans can I add though.
Sid, Beryl, and the barmaids were sick and tired of the constant moaning about 'real ale'. There were enough US bottled beers like 'Bud', available, so this should not have been an issue, There were also moans about the food. What did they want, wall to wall burgers? Plus the comments about 'warm beer'.
A brief note on cold beers or larger beers as they are known in the UK. Cold beers had their origins in Germany and the Czech Republic. They started off way back in the Middle Ages being stored in cold caves. There is a brilliant Czech Budweiser Budvar. This is the original 'bud'. There was a massive trade dispute regarding the copyright of the two forms of 'bud'. There was some kind of resolution. The Bull, needless to say, serves both kinds of beer.
The reality with 'real ales', was that this fermenting beer was kept in wooden barrels and was kept cool, but they were not 'chilled' as this would destroy the fermenting process. There was a whole art to how this beer was 'kept'. A discerning drinker would pick up immediately if the beer was 'off'. The Bull had had a long reputation as a pub that produced excellent real ale beer.
This extended to whisky. The Bull had an extensive range of quality malts. These included Laphroaig, Taliskisker, Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie, and many other fine malts. Most of the yanks seem to want only Jack Daniels, a blended whisky. Some insisted whisky originated from the US. Maybe a little drop of water or two in a malt or a glass of water separate. Never drown a malt with water!
Patience started to wear thin. Beryl was finding it increasingly difficult to contain her self.
"These yanks canae come in here and tell us what to do, do you ken?"
"Adding all that water to a malt ye ken? Should be a capital offence, aye!"
There seemed to be the likelihood of an imminent 'Glasgow Kiss', a head butt. Sid tried to do his best to contain Beryl, but this was proving very difficult.
The Majors and the Chief Detective Inspector were happily sitting on their favourite seats upstairs in the Lounge Bar quaffing the said English ales. The Chief Detective Inspector was there and it was Monday, but that didn't seem to make any difference.
Percy and Humphrey, the two retired Majors were less than amused.
"I say these American fellows seem to want to always throw their weight around," commented Percy.
"Indeed Percy. They seemed to want to see everyone conform to their values and customs."
This could be construed as a touch hypocritical, as this may have been the case with the British at the height of the British Empire.
The Chief Detective Inspector then added:
"Am I missin' somethin' 'ere but aint this bleedin' film all abou' a traditional London Pub init?"
The Chief's London accent did start to get more pronounced when he was getting angry.
It was at this point that Old Slippery moved from downstairs to upstairs and 'materialized' on his throne.
He had caught the gist of what was going on. These uppity 'Colonials' had wanted to take over the pub. Superimpose their tastes on the Public House. Eyes were reddening. The ghost's ' actual sword' appeared buckled up and ready for action. He would relish this. To avenge those 'Colonials', and show them who was in control. Maybe dispatch a few 'Frenchies' if he could find them.
Both Sid and Chief Detective Inspector John Higgins got into a heated 'telepathic' discussion with Old Slippery. They did get him to calm down eventually, but it was hard work. This had struck a solid ghostly nerve in the Right, Hon Jake Horatio Higginbottom. He was still very much in the Regency period, the early 19th century. France was the enemy then. He had fought them when he was in the army. They were responsible, the ghost felt, for the American colonies succeeding from Great Britain. This was why it was such a tough nut to crack to calm him down.
Sid the Landlord thought of a solution. He went downstairs and explained the situation to the movie director and producers. He was joined by the Chief Detective Inspector.
Chief Detective Inspector then addressed the whole crew downstairs. The gist of what he said was that the downstairs bar and restaurant would specialize in, but not exclusively in, American beers, whisky, drinks, and food, for the duration of the shoot. However, upstairs would remain a traditional 'real ale' London Pub. There would be no more snide comments or complaints, Complaints would be directed only at serving food and drink in the lower bar. They were all 'guests' here after all. He also pointed out that Old Slippery was out to avenge 1776, if things did not quieten down. This movie could be an actual re-run of Reservoir Dogs. if this was not 'sorted'.
There was another cultural angle to this. News had got to Carlos, Colombian, and Matteo, Italian who helped produce the food in the pub. Both the husbands of Beryl's daughters. Matteo was now increasingly working in the Bull. Neither of these two parties was particularly happy with these turn of events either.
It was at this point that Old Slippery materialized downstairs, sitting on his downstairs cellar chair. He started to look intently around and about him. He could see all the 'colonials'. His eyes were flicking red again. The main 'dissing' offenders started to feel an intense and painful chill down their backs. This was the ghost's way of telling all these people to back off in no uncertain terms. They all knew the consequences if they didn't.
However, things were not all uniformly homogenized and standardized in the United States. The US is a very large country. There is a very strong craft beer tradition covering several different styles of beer.
A producer and two cameramen sheepishly crept upstairs and joined the Majors, myself, and the Detective Chief Inspector. They ordered a pint of real ale each. Sid readily served them although Beryl was giving them dirty looks.
The producer Gary introduced himself along with his two colleagues.
"I would like to apologize to you guys for some of my fellow countrymen and sadly a few of the ladies too."
"This is not on"
"Their attitude is very poor."
"Apology accepted," was Percy's gracious reply "We are too prone to generalize too often. The United States is a veritable continent, so there must be a lot of variety across it?"
Gary agreed.
Gary then went on to explain he was from Boston. He brewed bottled craft beers. He modeled these on some of the Flemish bottled beers, Hoegaarden, Chimay, etc. He also liked the German-style Weissbier, and Wheat beers. He had noticed there were a number of different ales on sale here. There was also a range of 'guest beers' on sale. These came from small specialist brewers If customers liked these Beryl and Sid would place a regular order with those brewers. He loved the English 'Real Ale Beer' tradition and was very fond of the two main London beers, Youngs and Fullers. Gary knew how critical it was to keep a beer 'clean'.
The Bull was not a 'Tied' pub, but a 'Free House. It was not owned by a brewery and never was, and never will be. Beryl and Sid were happy to bring in whatever beer, drinks, and the food they thought would sell. This was proving very successful.
He then tentatively did his pitch. Would the pub be interested in selling some of his beers? Maybe not the most opportune moment, but he thought he would give it a try.
Both the Detective Chief Inspector and I thought it would be an idea to have a word with Sid, but not Beryl at the moment. She needed to calm down. She had gone upstairs to visit 'wee Jock', her little Highland terrier for comfort. So this was a very good moment for this discussion with Beryl out of the way.
I asked him if he had any bottles with him? He said yes, and rushed downstairs to get them. Sid was interested. He tried a beer and was impressed. Specialist bottled beers were being served up now like wines to complement the food on offer. Sid made Gary an offer which he agreed to. Getting the beers in from the States would not be easy, but as Gary was now more or less resident in London, he had already started brewing here. Sid thought he could win Beryl round. There was a reasonable profit to be made and that was the music they both liked to hear. It is always best not to assume too much and not make wild generalizations about different nations. The deal Sid struck with this Boston brewer is a case in point.
All in all, things were nicely reconciled and everything was now set up for the initial screening of the movie.