I can't remember where I heard this but I got two cool snippets of bar history trivia: Navy "strength" Rum/Gin is actually less alcoholic than regular Rum/Gin because navy strength meant it had to...
I can't remember where I heard this but I got two cool snippets of bar history trivia:
Navy "strength" Rum/Gin is actually less alcoholic than regular Rum/Gin because navy strength meant it had to be watered down enough so if it spilled it wouldn't catch fire (or ignite gunpowder). In the video, they talk about the admiral who in 1740 made it a requirement to be watered down, but it looks like that was for other reasons so idk how correct this little fact is.
Indian Pale Ale (Beer) is a specific "hoppy" type of Ale. This is because, in order to preserve the beer British soldier's rations on its 5-month long journey to India, the beer had to be pumped full of Hops. Hence the name Indian pale ale, and its distinct hoppy taste.
I love me some little historical factoids, but now you have me wondering if those are apocryphal or not. Regarding "navy strength", it looks like it's a modern marketing term....
I love me some little historical factoids, but now you have me wondering if those are apocryphal or not.
Regarding "navy strength", it looks like it's a modern marketing term.
Alright, what the hell do we mean when we say “navy strength”?
“Navy strength” is a relatively new term. It was coined by the branding consultant John Murphy on behalf of Plymouth Gin in 1993 for something very old — what used to be called 100º UK proof spirit. It refers to a spirit that is bottled at exactly 57% alcohol by volume.
And I can't find any trustworthy references to it being watered down in the Navy because fear of fire, only mentions of the problems arising from sailors getting drunk (though it should be noted, even that has no citations).
Given to the sailor straight, this caused additional problems, as some sailors saved the rum rations for several days to drink all at once. Due to the subsequent illness and disciplinary problems, the rum was mixed with water. This both diluted its effects and accelerated its spoilage, preventing hoarding of the allowance. Vernon's 1740 order that the daily rum issue of a half pint of rum be mixed with one quart of water and issued in two servings, before noon and after the end of the working day, became part of the official regulations of the Royal Navy in 1756 and lasted for more than two centuries. This gives a water-to-rum ratio of 4:1.
But for IPAs there does appear to be some truth behind it being especially formulated to survive long sea voyages better:
At the behest of the East India Company, Allsopp's brewery developed a strongly-hopped pale ale in the style of Hodgson's for export to India.[13][14] Other Burton brewers, including Bass and Salt, were eager to replace their lost Russian export market and quickly followed Allsopp's lead. Perhaps as a result of the advantages of Burton water in brewing,[c] Burton India pale ale was preferred by merchants and their customers in India, but Hodgson's October beer clearly influenced the Burton brewers' India pale ales.
Brewer Charrington's trial shipments of hogsheads of "India Ale" to Madras and Calcutta in 1827 proved successful and a regular trade emerged with the key British agents and retailers: Griffiths & Co in Madras; Adam, Skinner and Co. in Bombay and Bruce, Allen & Co. in Calcutta.[15]
The common story that early IPAs were much stronger than other beers of the time, however, is a myth.[17] While IPAs were formulated to survive long voyages by sea better than other styles of the time, porter was also shipped to India and California successfully.[18] It is clear that by the 1860s, India pale ales were widely brewed in England, and that they were much more attenuated and highly hopped than porters and many other ales.[19]
I can't remember where I heard this but I got two cool snippets of bar history trivia:
Navy "strength" Rum/Gin is actually less alcoholic than regular Rum/Gin because navy strength meant it had to be watered down enough so if it spilled it wouldn't catch fire (or ignite gunpowder). In the video, they talk about the admiral who in 1740 made it a requirement to be watered down, but it looks like that was for other reasons so idk how correct this little fact is.
Indian Pale Ale (Beer) is a specific "hoppy" type of Ale. This is because, in order to preserve the beer British soldier's rations on its 5-month long journey to India, the beer had to be pumped full of Hops. Hence the name Indian pale ale, and its distinct hoppy taste.
I love me some little historical factoids, but now you have me wondering if those are apocryphal or not.
Regarding "navy strength", it looks like it's a modern marketing term.
https://www.insidehook.com/article/arts-entertainment/what-navy-strength-booze-means-and-where-to-find-it
And I can't find any trustworthy references to it being watered down in the Navy because fear of fire, only mentions of the problems arising from sailors getting drunk (though it should be noted, even that has no citations).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grog
But for IPAs there does appear to be some truth behind it being especially formulated to survive long sea voyages better:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_pale_ale#History