In a ceremony that dates back to the Middle Ages, 48-year-old chartered accountant Steve Williams was named London's official ale taster.

At the 30th Anniversary celebration of the Barony of Vinhold at their All Hallow’s Feast, the war mongering Baron and Baroness of Westermark asserted their outlandish claim to our local castle castello di amorosa: There will be WAR on all fronts!  

For the past two years, Marc Johnson and Sheree Krasley, who met in the SCA, have collaborated to bring the mead experience to southeastern Pennsylvania with their Stonekeep Meadery. Amy Strauss of the Phoenix (Phoenixville, PA) has the story.

Experts have determined that Scotch whiskey was born on June 1, 1495 when King James of Scotland commissioned Friar Jon Cor to makes eight bowls of the potent drink. Wired Magazine celebrates the event in their "This Day in Tech" column.

When Patrick E. McGovern read an article about traces of an "unidentified beverage" being found inside 2800-year-old pottery vessels in Central America, he was inspired to collaborate with the author, anthropologist John Henderson, and eventually to recreate a brew made from cacao beans.

Stories tell of heated words this past fall in the Court of King Cedric, at Baron’s Ball. Witnesses speak of Baroness Araviere of Wealdsmere accusing Baroness Stjarna of Wastekeep of stealing away her Courtiers.

Archaeologists working near Tel Aviv, Israel have found a wine press whose size and advanced design are exceptional for its period.

Duke Ulstead the Unsteady as announced that the Kingdom of Ansteorra will host the Known World Party at Gulf Wars 19 on March 19, 2010.

Unto the populace of Lochac does Mordenvale extend its invitation to join in on our
2nd Annual Rhythm & Brews Tourney and Feast.

GULF WARS 19 KNOWNE WORLD PARTY!!!

In an article for the Chow website, Lessley Anderson and Roxanne Webbe review 10 Meads You Should Try. The American meads range from peucts produced in Portland, Maine to Anchorage, Alaska.

His most generous, temperate, and exalted Baron of Vinhold, Gavin, invites you to a culinary and bardic adventure in celebration fo the Barony of Vinhold's 30th Anniversary on November 14th, 2009.

Russians are known for their love of vodka, but in the Middle Ages, the Russians displayed great talent at creating other alcoholic beverages including mead. Later, in the early 16th century, monks developed the first recipe for vodka.

Archaeologists in Denmark are puzzled over the discovery of a large building "littered with bits and pieces of exquisite golden jewellery, glass and bronze broaches, high quality artifacts, such as drinking glasses and ceramics, which all seem to have been deliberately smashed in some ritual."

California vintners, desperate to save their grape harvests fro the ravages of starlings, have turned to other birds for help: falcons. Gloria Hillard has an audio report from NPR's Weekend Edition.(photo)

It has been a good season of fair trading (we can call it “trading”, yes?) and the time is right to celebrate our seafaring acumen as well as our health and wealth. Come and join other like-minded souls for a day of lusty pleasure; duelling, gambling, game playing, storytelling and enjoying the fruits of the brewer’s arts.

For years, Adam Kittel made mead in his garage before perfecting his product. Now, the Loveland, Colorado SCAdian has opened Bacchus Meadery in "the Napa Valley of mead." Shelley Widhalm of the Loveland Reporter-Herald reports. (photo)

Those interested in homebrewing may want to attend Brewfest at Cooper's Lake Campground August 21-23, 2009. The non-SCA event will be a gathering of homebrew enthusiasts to discuss their favorite hobby.

On August 22, 2009, Fred Brezel will host Brewfest at Cooper's Lake Campground in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, the site of the Pennsic War.

Mount Grace priory in North Yorkshire has planted an herb garden in the hopes of recreating Britain's ancient version of chartreuse.

A recent archaeological dig sponsored by the Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives and the ARTeHIS Laboratory (CNRS/Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication/Université de Bourgogne) shows that the production of burgundy wine near Dijon, France dates to Roman times.

Residue from a chemical only known in chocolate has been found on pottery shards dating back to between 1400 to 900 BC in Central America, according to an article at LiveScience magazine online.

On the blog Proof for the New York Times, Iain Gately ponders the history of hangovers and the euphemisms used to deal with them.

Michael L Wilson reports that this summer's Lilies War XXIII will feature another brewing competition: Sweets for the Sweet IV.

The Discovery Channel's "How Things Work" recently ran an episode on beer. As an added resource, the network's website includes additional information on the beverage including "Beer Myths" and "How Beer Can be Good for Your Heart."

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Unto the populace of Lochac does Mordenvale extend its invitation to join in on our 2nd Annual Rhythm & Brews Tourney and Feast.

Come along for a Rose Tourney to honour the time old court of love in a spectacular St Valentine's boast of chivalry and prowess.

Settle in for an evening of entertainment from the bawdy to the harmonic - this year the Grogs wish any who may to challenge last year's winners, the Morris Dancers. Location:
Barony of Mordenvale (Kariong. NSW)

Raul Cano, a scientist at the California Polytechnic State University, has brewed beer using the 45 million year old yeast from a Lebanese weevil trapped in amber.

Patrick McGovern, a molecular archaeologist at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, does not hesitate to chat about the history of alcoholic beverages, and has even re-created a "9,000-year-old Chinese drink we call Jiahu."

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08280/917782-53.stm

description:
The war season is over and our folk have returned to their homes to reap the benefits of a most bountiful harvest. Come and celebrate the great deeds of the past year with us as we spend a day in feast, tournament, drink and song.

Join their Excellencies of Ben Dunfirth and take part in glorious challenges in the field with armoured combat, cunning duels on the lists of fencing and devious shoots a plenty for our many archers, who come from far and wide to test their mettle. Come share your bounty with us Ealdormere and you shall be welcomed to a day of pleasure, challenge and good cheer. Location:
Barony of Ben Dunfirth (Binbrook, Ontario)