Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Philadelphia Ale House Celebrates 150 Years

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/McGillin%27s_Olde_Ale_House.jpg
Congratulations to McGillin's Olde Ale House, which began a 150-day countdown to its 150th anniversary with the launch of its own beer, McGillin's IPA 1860 (Indian Pale Ale.) The brew is unfiltered, as it would have been in 1860, the year the pub was opened by two Irish immigrants, "Ma" and "Pa" McGillin. It was then known as The Bell in Hand, according to the Website.

After 150 years of doing business, it's safe to say that from humble beginnings in a row home on Drury Street, the oldest Irish pub in Philadelphia has arrived. An AP article about McGillin's was carried today in the New York Times .

If my Irish grandfather -- a Germantown resident who frequented the Center City establishment -- was alive to help celebrate, I'm guessing he would say McGillin's "... is a stalwart friend to any Irishman in need of 'the nip of the creature.'"

In my family, on special occasions, the adults would be called into the kitchen to celebrate being together, and "the nip" was Jameson Irish Whiskey -- the older, the better.

Someday, I hope someone explains the derivation of " the nip of the creature." Maybe I should head to McGillin's to see if a friendly patron can offer an explanation. Until then, I can only imagine that this colorful phrase describes a taste of a primeval elixir, good for what ails you. As long as it is just a nip.

N.B. - "creature" was pronounced "cray-chur." Accent on the first syllable.

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