For those interested in spelling, history, or just beer trivia·.
<editor's note> From BEER BREAK: Your Two-Minute Beer Primer Vol. 2, No. 33 - May 30, 2002 A publication of RealBeer.com http://www.realbeer.com </editor's note>
PECULIER CORRECTION A very nice note from Pete Mueller concerning last week's newsletter: "Love the site and newsletter. I'd like to point out a slight error in the latest issue (23 May). You state: '(Theakston) Old Peculier from Northern England (that's a revival of the medieval spelling, which is part of the appeal)' "In fact, the word 'peculier' is an old Norman French word meaning 'particular' rather than odd, and had to do with the 'particular' situation in Masham, where, according to Theakston's website, '... the bishop wasn't too keen to make the dangerous trek to Masham from York, a journey that would inevitably bring him face-to-face with various thieves and vagabonds. So the cunning cleric freed Masham of 'all the customs and claims of his Archdeacons and officials' - and established the independent Peculier Court of Masham to deal with law. The chairman of the original court had a great seal made to mark his decisions. The seal used today, and the modern symbol of all Theakston beers, is based on this.' In fact, the area had it's own laws and currency. Anyway, that's pretty nitpicky, I'm sure! "Keep up the great work!" Thanks, Pete, for the information and kind words.