Have a beer at the Green Dragon

Charles says, "Won't you join me for a beer."

The familiar pub, is also known as the bar, watering hole, public house, tavern, and my personal favourite, grogshop.  There are another half dozen synonyms for the place you go to cut your thirst and drown your sorrows.  The term saloon conjures up images of the old west.  More refined is the term cafe, being somewhat European in origin.  Way down south, where Spanish is the main language, cantina is the favoured term.

Hobbiton, of Middle Earth, has its own drinking establishment called the Green Dragon.  Although it is designated as an inn rather than an ethanol consumption social club, it bears the markings of one.  Casks of ales abound and the proprietor is only happy enough to serve your choice of a distilled liquid.  For the non-imbibing, there is a rather pleasant cinnamon laced apple cider.  Whatever your beverage of choice, you are bound to enjoy the drink, surroundings, and the company.

There were no dwarfs, hobbits, or elves present when we sauntered into the place.  It seemed that the age of man had come and all the rest had departed for other lands.  Sad in a way, but exciting that they left such a rich heritage and selection of brews.  The above photo shows my friend Charles offering up a glass of grogg in salute to those that came before us.  Then we toasted them all and downed the glasses of comfort, relishing its deep, rich flavour.

I was thinking about the time and effort it must have taken to develop the beverage they serve.  Each iteration providing some direction towards the final product.  The worst one, however, ended up being useful as a steak sauce.  They named it "Worst in Shire" sauce.  Over the years, the name has been bastardized somewhat and the resulting familiar condiment resulted.  Just think of all that hobbits have given us.  Steaks would just not be the same.