An Old Beer Drinker - The way it was

[JoePa]

Many of you younger guys probably don't know how beer was made and packaged in the old days - if you wanted draft beer it came in wooden barrels - hooked up to a tap filled with ice - when a glass was poured out of the tap you would let stand for awhile and then use a wooden stick to wipe off the excess head and then fill it up again to the top of the glass - the white foam was thick and creamy -you always got a nice head on each glass of beer - and I'll tell you something many of you guys never have and in all likelihood never will taste a real good beer- in the old days companies didn't add all kind of chemicals to the beer - it was made from all natural stuff - I remember when I was a young man and worked for a contractor - there was a gin mill right near where we worked - so after work we would all stop in for a few beers before going home - this place only had one beer on tap and there was always a lot of guys in there - the beer was as fresh as you can get - the bartender had to hook up a couple fresh barrels each day - man I'll tell you something - that was good beer - we couldn't wait for the end of the day so we could have a few - beer like that just isn't available today -


Other than the barrels you could get it in returnable bottles but like all bottled or canned beer - the beer was pasteurized so it wouldn't spoil - that beer didn't taste like draft beer for that reason - at one time you could only get beer in bottles - then the cans can out along with the aluminum barrels - you had to open the cans with a church key there was no twist off tops like today - you probably have to go to Germany to get a good glass of draft beer today - they have laws against putting crap in your beer - have one on me tonight even though it isn't as good as the beer in the good old days - because of your age you won't know the difference

[Oddmott]

Have a crazy Quebec Frenchman friend who brews his own from scratch with all-natural ingredients. Great stuff.

He's going to help me brew Mead with any honey I have that isn't good enough to sell. And if I ever have more maple sap than I can process, he's going to brew some maple beer too.

[KMan]

There are hundreds of craft brewers in North America, both US and Canada, making beer without preservatives.

[yellow dog]

I pick up beer by the jug at a craft brewery 5 minute walk from my work. No preservatives whatsoever ! Much better beer is made today because old recipes are brought back and made better with technology.

[skeeter1]

You are the most successful troll on this site

[fishfreek]

After the 14th or so, they all taste the same to me LOL.

[Rugger]

I like to think of JP as our Fox News.

[flowerjohn]

Joe didnt you used to be the lifestyle editor at CNN? Lol.

[JoePa]

Joe didnt you used to be the lifestyle editor at CNN? Lol.

No John - but what I'm trying to do is past along years of experience and wisdom gained from living a very productive life - before my fingers too stiff to punch the keys -

I've tried many craft beers over the years but some how something is missing - maybe its the wooden barrels - one thing you want the draft beer to be cold but not too cold so maybe its the ice - or maybe the old recipes died with the old timers - or God forbid - maybe my taste buds are failing -

[flowerjohn]

Joe you are making me want to go have a beer maybe I will take the afternoon off!! My grand dad used to make beer using that method. I was a little kid but he sure taught me everything from tapping a keg to pouring a pint nice and slow. He used to have his buddies from the steel mill in Hamilton for cards Friday nights and used to go over to bartend. I used to get a dollar or two in tips which was a good pay in 1967. Snuck some suds too. Some of my best memories with my grand dad. As always joe you help bring back my good memories with your great stories. Thanks buddy!