London, GB | Formerly of New York, Buenos Aires, Fife, and the Western Cape. | Saoránach d’Éirinn.

2009 September

St. Nicholas of the Seven Seas

ONE OF OUR correspondents sends word that Russia is to name the fourth of her Borei-class ballistic missile submarines Николай Чудотворец, which is to say “Saint Nicholas”. The Borei-class vessels are the first series of Russian strategic submarines to be launched in the post-Soviet era. The previous subs in the class have been named the Yuri Dolgoruki (after Prince Yuri I, founder of Moscow), the Alexander Nevsky (after the Grand Prince of Vladimir & Novgorod venerated as a saint in the Eastern churches), and the Vladimir Monomakh (after the Grand Prince of Kievan Rus). The Saint Nicholas is of course not the first boat or ship to bear the name of New York’s patron saint. There was HMS St. Nicholas as well as a Spanish naval ship San Nicolas in the 1790s, eventually captured by the Royal Navy and commissioned as HMS San Nicolas. A Sealink (later Stena) ferry named St. Nicholas traversed the Harwich/Hook-of-Holland route from 1983 until it was renamed Stena Normandy in 1991 and transferred to the Southampton/Cherbourg route. Numerous merchant vessels took the saint’s name and patronage throughout the nineteenth century.

September 3, 2009 8:00 pm | Link | 1 Comment »

Beers We Have Known (and Loved)

“What’s your favourite beer?” one might very well ask, but it’s a difficult question to answer. Like wines, there are different beers for different occasions and what might be perfect for one situation might prove inappropriate in others. I loathe the disgusting lagers that the word “beer” represents for most Americans. I prefer the middle-to-darker range of beers, and a good bitter in the afternoon is heavenly.

Old Speckled Hen is one of my favourites, and I’ve found it goes very well with ham.

Lunch today was a perfect croque-monsieur & salad with side of Belgian fries at one of my preferred Manhattan eateries, served with a glass of De Koninck.

Leffe, in its blonde and brown varieties, is appropriate on most occasions.

Chimay is great for a winter’s evening by the fire, if there’s no mulled wine available.

John Smith’s was our favourite tipple at university, where the Russell sold it in two-pint glasses until they realised my circle were the only ones drinking it and so replaced it with something more profitable.

Boddingtons is similar to John Smith’s and more readily available in the States.

My favourite beer, however, is actually made by the Prince of Wales (of all people): the organic ale produced by the Duchy of Cornwall. (The ancient duchy is among the many titles traditionally held by the Sovereign’s heir, and the one immediately following Prince of Wales in precedence). To my continual surprise, I’m able to find it for purchase right in my home town. I wonder if they keg it for draught as well, though surely that would be impossible to find in America.

September 3, 2009 7:53 pm | Link | 12 Comments »

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