www.fanackapan.co.uk apparently seeks to address the lack of content about our hero on the woefully inadequately updated (at the moment) Old Heatonian, and serves as a braindump for the often bizarre thoughts that roll around his fevered mind.  Check it out – your brain will never forgive you!

Moving on, I found this article on an American newsite.

Given that the Kings Arms will soon be closing for a few days to get some essential maintenance out of the way (and hopefully, fingers crossed, the installation of the Mighty Dyson Airblade in the gents bogs), perhaps landlord Andy will consider installing similar equipment in the public bar, although aerosol Stella would be a better choice as far as I’m concerned…

INSTALL IT AND THEY WILL COME!!

However, after some ‘foot stamping’ by Diddy – who was hoping to celebrate his birthday there – the management will attempt to open the bar Thursday night.

A quick straw poll of the rapidly diminishing crowd of Fountain regulars leads us to the conclusion that he’s a bit of a lightweight!

A gentleman walked up to the bar and asked for half a beer. Perplexed, landlord Andy requested a bit more detail – after all, the Fountain is the proud purveyor of no less than 3 cask ales, all kept in exceptional condition, with capacity for 3 more when the new pumps are sorted.

‘Oh, just give us half of your bestseller’ replied the gentleman.
‘They’re all bestseller’s’ muttered Andy as he pulled an excellent half of delicious ‘Farmers Blonde’.

The gent then casually mentioned that the new Smoking Shelter was ‘very impressive’, swigged off his half, then scarpered, the whole visit lasting no longer than 3 minutes.

This all seemed a bit mysterious, until someone from the other end of the bar suggested that he may have been a spy for one of the other local holstelries, come down to see if all this talk about excellent cask conditioned ales being served in the village is true…

I’m sure, if that were the case, he would have answered in the affirmative!

Beer as medicine
In the early 1920s during prohibition, a vocal group of brewers and doctors fought for the right to prescribe and drink “medical beer.” For just a few months in 1921, a pint could be prescribed to cure whatever ailed ya. From Smithsonian:

On March 3, 1921, shortly before his last day as attorney general, (A. Mitchell) Palmer issued an opinion declaring that the “beverage” clause of the 18th Amendment entitled doctors to prescribe beer at any time, under any circumstances and in any amount they saw fit. Wholesale druggists could take charge of selling beer. He also suggested that commercial drugstores could sell it from their soda fountains—though “never again beer over the saloon bar or in the hotel dining room.”

But rather than settling the debate, Palmer’s opinion set off a new round of court challenges, squabbles and questions. “Will the druggists become bartenders and the drug store a saloon?” the New York Times asked that November. “Will the doctors become beer dictators and be overwhelmed by those who are thirsty because they are sick, or merely sick with thirst?”

On the subject of the Castle – I visited last night and introduced myself to the new owner/landlord Paul Chand. He made me very welcome and took time out to talk to explain his plans for the pub. The good news is that he is committed to maintaining the Castle as a traditional pub with a choice of real ale. He has experience of the licensed trade having run a few pubs in recent years including the Coachhouse in Legrams Lane and the Tut & Shive in Duckworth Lane. He has invested in new handpumps and lines and showed me his cellar. He is well aware of CAMRA and asked if we could advise him with regard to promoting real ale. I said that I’d bring this to the attention of the branch and will encourage members to drop in and make themselves known to him. I’m sure he will consider a Tyke Taverner ad but didn’t want to pressure him too much at this stage – I’ll follow this up.

Last night he had four ales on – Marston’s Pedigree, Mansfield Cask, Mansfield Aragon? and Hydes Jekyll’s Gold. The Hydes was in good condition. He aims to keep Mansfield Cask regular and rotate the others. He is not tied to any beer arrangement and has free choice of supplier. It’s clear that he favours Wolves & Dudley as three of the beers are from their stable. We need to encourage him to take local beers. He has Fullers ESB and Jennings Snecklifter in the cellar.

Overall it’s positive and hopefully we’ll see the Castle continue a tradition of good ale.”

Strange that there’s no mention of his glorious stint at the Delvers