A question for episcopalscot......

[kiltimabar]

This thread stirred up a question I've had fopr a long time--maybe somebody here can answer it. I've seen mention in some British writings (Patrick O'Brian is one, "Upstairs, Downstairs" is another) of "barley water." What is that, anyway? Nobody I know seems even to have heard of it. Is it some old-timey thing they don't make any more?

[Alaskan Celt]

[Hamish]

This thread stirred up a question I've had fopr a long time--maybe somebody here can answer it. I've seen mention in some British writings (Patrick O'Brian is one, "Upstairs, Downstairs" is another) of "barley water." What is that, anyway? Nobody I know seems even to have heard of it. Is it some old-timey thing they don't make any more?

Barley Water is non-alcoholic and is still available here in the United Kingdom, but I've not drunk it for many years. Nor do I know how it is made, but it's up there on the supermarket shelves along with Lime Cordial, Orange Squash, Ribena, etc., etc. These are all concentrates that are diluted with water before drinking. When I was a kid (yes, I think I can remember that far back ), fruit juices were not available but these concentrates were.

Barley water has a unique taste and is VERY refreshing to drink on a hot, summer's day.

[Hamish]

"barley water."

Don't know about barley water, but we called beer Barley Pop when I was younger. (For you non North Americans "Pop" is slang... short for soda pop which is what we call beverages like CocaCola, Pepsi etc.)

I don't think we in the United Kingdom use the word "Pop" to describe such a wide variety of drinks. CocaCola and PepsiCola are known as "Coke". Soda Water is a fizzy mixer (great with Campari!!), and "Pop" is (as far as I am aware) is used as slang for Lemonade.

[bear]

"barley water."

Don't know about barley water, but we called beer Barley Pop when I was younger. (For you non North Americans "Pop" is slang... short for soda pop which is what we call beverages like CocaCola, Pepsi etc.)

I don't think we in the United Kingdom use the word "Pop" to describe such a wide variety of drinks. CocaCola and PepsiCola are known as "Coke". Soda Water is a fizzy mixer (great with Campari!!), and "Pop" is (as far as I am aware) is used as slang for Lemonade.

It's Canadian to use "brown pop" for beer. It's an old Hockey term, when they used to let us have a few "pops" in the dressing rooms after the game.
"Barley pop" is another sometimes used for beer.
We used to "go for a stubby" but they changed the shape of Canadian beer bottles to the American style. I miss those stubbies.

[macwilkin]

Bear,

I remember hearing an Aussie song, "Dear Old Darwin Town" (Graham I'm sure will correct me with the correct title) which talks about a "stubby and a steak" in the chorus -- my friend in Queensland said that a stubby refers to a 2-liter bottle of beer -- Graham, is that true?

T.

[Graham]

I wouldn't know, Queensland is a foreign land far away filled with strange people who often don't think straight because of the heat. They have lots of time to sit around drinking lots of beer on the beach.

[bubba]

They have lots of time to sit around drinking lots of beer on the beach.

Would that I were there. Sounds like my kind of place.