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Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
From: andmp@zeus.bris.ac.uk (David Pickles)
Subject: Re: Theakstons Peculiar Old Beer
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 11:49:11 GMT

On Fri, 28 Oct 1994 09:13:38 GMT Andy Wardley (abw@dsbc.icl.co.uk) wrote: |> a) What is the significance of the monk-type chap? |> b) Who is he anyway?
|> c) What are those "Flying Golden Turds" (tm)? |> d) Can I have some free beer please?

Having just read this thread, I think I can help out a bit here...

While on a long weekend trip to Yorkshire a few weeks back, the missus and I found ourselves in the small market town of Masham (that's pronounced Massam, for you non-Yorkies). Being a particular fan of their excellent products, I was highly delighted to find that Theakston's offer guided tours of the brewery, which we duly embarked upon.

Very interesting trip it was too - anyway, the point of this is that there was an exhibit about the Peculier of Massham on the wall of the Visitor Centre, documenting all that is known about it/his history. The upshot was that *nobody* knows who or what he was, and that furthermore, if anyone can shed any light upon it, the brewery would be delighted to hear.

Admittedly, there were various theories put forward, but I'm afraid I can't remember them. There was something about it being possibly connected with the Crusades though. Can't help with the flying turds either.

As an aside... Theakston's at Massham is one of the few breweries who still send their beer out in wooden casks - they still employ 2 coopers to manufacture and repair these in the traditional way. The brewery was bought up by the huge Scottish and Newcastle Breweries a few years back, and only a very small percentage of Theakston's beer is actually brewed there... the brewery is chiefly used for 'specials' and test purposes I believe. After the tour, a half was pulled for each visitor, one of whom, a Geordie CAMRA type (*) went droning on about how marvellous it tasted, how much better it was served straight from the well-head, so to speak, than it was down his local, blah blah blah... The guide, a very dour Yorkshireman, waited till he'd finished and said 'That's funny, cos this were brewed in Newcastle and came down ont' back of a lorry last week...' Har, har har....

David 'luckily my wife doesn't like Theastons' Pickles

(*) A gentleman from Newcastle-upon-tyne who appeared to be a member

of the Campaign for Real Ale

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
From: ian@zc07.demon.co.uk (Ian Scott)
Subject: Re: Theakstons Peculiar Old Beer
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 1994 18:33:30 +0000

In article <38hved$1i4@engnews2.Eng.Sun.COM>

linden@positive.eng.sun.com "Peter van der Linden" writes:

> OK, Zima-bots let's talk beer.
>
> There's a brewery in Masham, Yorkshire, that makes a beer called "Old
> Peculier". I dedicated my book (ISBN 0-13-177429-8) to this product.
>
[snip]
>
> What is a "Peculier" and what's the beer connection, compadres?
>

Popped into the local library this lunchtime to see what I could dig up.

OED 2nd edition : Peculiar, of or relating to private property. - also Peculier when used in the sense of :

Peculiar Jurisdiction : in Canon Law - a jurisdiction proper to

     itself exempt from or not subject to the jurisdiction of the
     bishop of the diocese.

I also managed to find a book "The Language of Drink" by Graham & Sue Edwards [ISBN 0-86299-375-X] which had the following to say.

Old Peculier [Eng]. A famous strong Ale 1058.5 O.G. brewed by the Theakstons Brewery in Marsham [sic] Yorkshire. Named after the town's ancient Ecclesiastical Court, (Peculier of Marsham [sic]) hence the peculiar spelling. Also a variety is exported to Holland at 1066 O.G.

and

Theakston Brewery [Eng]. Based in Masham, North Yorkshire. Purchased the Carlisle State Brewery in 1974 and was taken over itself in 1984 by the Matthew Brown Brewery. Noted for its cask conditioned Old Peculier 1058.5 O.G., Black Bull 1035 O.G. and bottled Scotch Ale 1035 O.G.

Ian "you're interested in Old Peculier? This is a library, you want

a pub" Scott

--
Ian is ian@zc07.demon.co.uk. He doesn't know Andy Wardley, but is pretty sure they could be best mates, especially after spending all evening drinking Theakstons Old Peculier.

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
From: Geoff@vuepoint.demon.co.uk (Geoff Percival)
Subject: Re: Theakstons Peculiar Old Beer
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 1994 01:05:22 +0000

In article: <CyDLMr.z5@dsbc.icl.co.uk> abw@dsbc.icl.co.uk (Andy Wardley) writes:
>
> Andy "huge beer and hung like a donkey" Wardley writes:
> >
> >Consulting the label that I steamed off a bottle last night, It says
> >"SEAL OF THE OFFICIAL OF THE PECULIER OF MASHAM, 1741"
> >
> >If I can find a number for Theakston, I'll give them a ring and find
> >out more.
>
> British Telecom Directory Enquiries are a bunch of bloody useless bastards
> and what's more, they charge you 42p for the pleasure. Not only can they
> not find any reference to Theakston Ltd for Masham, North Yorkshire, but
> the brainless gonk didn't understand the concept of "brewery" and didn't
> want to hear about a monk chap in a funny hat with flying golden turds.
>

Dunno why Andy had such difficulty with BT - I've just let my modem do talking, and dragged the following information off PhoneBase (BT's free directory database) :-

Theakstone's Brewery

Main Office Ripon N Yorkshire HG4 2HZ................. Ripon(0765) 689544

Out Of Hours (Answering Machine) Ripon N Yorkshire YO257PN ............................................... Ripon(0765) 689339

Brewery: Production Dept (Masham)

Office - Out Of Hours Only XXXXXX...................... Ripon(0765) 689189

FAX  XXXXXX............................................. Ripon(0765) 689921
FAX  Ripon N Yorkshire  HG4 4HH......................... Ripon(0765) 689769 

Brewery Visitors Centre Ripon N Yorkshire HG4 2HZ..... Ripon(0765) 689057

> So, it looks like a letter is in order and we'll trust it to the mighty
> command of the British postal service. If I get any free beer back, you
> can all come over to my place and help my drink it.
>

Well, they do include the postcode too, but you can ring them!

> >If I can find their address, I'll send them a letter asking if they
> >would like to add "Official Alcoholic Beverage of AFU (ZIMA doesn't
> >count)" to the label. What an honour.
>

> So I'll ask them:
>
> a) What is the significance of the monk-type chap?
> b) Who is he anyway?
> c) What are those "Flying Golden Turds" (tm)?
> d) Can I have some free beer please?
>

I think I know the answers to 1), 2) & 3) - but I'm damned if I can answer that final question - is it in the FAQ?