Druidry; beer or ice tea?

[Kat Lady]

I thought You meant: Is druidry like beer or icetea, because this is in Discuss druidry.

Should this thread perhaps be moved to the Hearthfire or should the discussion be more in the vain of what Dendrias thought initially?

[skh]

And now for a Dutch/Somerset joke that will baffle anyone not from the UK and doesn't make much sense when written down...

Why did the Somerset man go swimming off the Netherlands with his mouth open?

Because he heard of the zuyder Zee! (Cider Sea)

Reminds me of the small supermarket on Glastonbury high street where the lady behind the counter asked me repeatedly if I wanted a bike with my shopping. And I'm usually proud of my listening understanding skills.
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(she was offering me a bag, of course).

peace /|\
Sonja

[skh]

I thought You meant: Is druidry like beer or icetea, because this is in Discuss druidry.

Should this thread perhaps be moved to the Hearthfire or should the discussion be more in the vain of what Dendrias thought initially?

I was thinking the same just as I was adding to its non-seriousness...

[Frog]

To try and use Dendrias' question (sorry, missed it)

I would say Druidry is more beer like than tea. Both require the initial growth of natural plants to provide the initial aspect (earth). both require water and wisdom (air) to produce properly and both require some form of heat to be enjoyed.

But Beer, like druidry, also has a couple of interesting spin offs early in the process - the novice can become a bard and the first by product of beer is the materials to make Marmite (whether or not you like it!). In it's production, there are elements that create a frothy mass of heat and excitement (as found on this board) and the final aspect is left to mature and settle. And then for those who appreciate the flavour, like Druidry, we can all agree its a wonderful magical brew.


As for my preference:

I do have the occaisonal tea, but it's not my favourite cup of err... oh.

But I do prefer the beer option. Most commercial "lager" beers can't hold a candle to what was considered and original lager beer (try comparing the Anheiser-Busch Budweiser with the original Check Budweiser Budvar to see the difference). However, at the last Great British Beer Festival (this years is Earls Court London, beginning of August, tickets on sale!) there are over 400 beers available - plus another couple of hundred international examples and a few ciders and perry's. To say that you don't like beer really just implies that you haven't liked the ones that you have tasted or are available in your local shops.

As for a preference... well may be it's because I'm a Londoner, but I prefer Fuller's London Pride as a beer of choice - with Tsingtao (Japanese beer) as the cooler option.

[DaRC]

The main difference between British and European beer is that British beers tend to be ales whilst European beer tend to be lagers.
However I'm a Brit so it has to be Beer over that abomination that is Iced Tea
(:grin: ok I'll 'fess up to drinking it on occasion and liking it too).

Beer Drinkers Handy Phrasebook
Tip #1
For visitors to the U.S. you just need to remember this at any bar/restuarent
"What non-domestic or micro-brewery beers do you have?"

Tip #2
"I'll have <a beer name you recognise and like>/Dos Equis/Shiner Bock"

But to take it back to it's Druidry roots - Beer as proper ale is created from a natural process and is alive whilst iced tea is dead.

[DJ Droood]

I think druidry is like chamomile tea...this could have been a preface to some arch-druid's handbook:

Chamomile (druidry) makes a pleasant aromatic tea (religion) with a fruity flavor, enhanced by sugar or honey. It is often sipped for relief of health problems ranging from toothache to nervousness. Chamomile (druidry) has also been noted as beneficial for soothing headaches and is a natural relaxing herb (religion) known to assist the restless and those suffering from insomnia. In many circles Chamomile (druidry) is called nighty night tea (religion) or sleepy tea (religion) on account of its natural properties which promote restfulness and drowsiness.

[Aelfarh]

How is that nobody told me about that beer festival I will book my tickets right away.

[Badger Bob]

Well I would say that Druidry is definitely Beer rather than Iced Tea...

Iced Tea just quenches your thirst for a moment

but Beer:

is created in a cauldron
makes you feel on top of the world
comes in hundreds of different flavours
is inspired by, but not the same as the iron age version
can cause terrible headaches
and too much takes you straight to the underworld.

[treegod]

But thankfully I found a Catalan brand that makes British style ales, so they're cottoning on

Oddly enough (well to a Brit anyway) they are not really British style ales, they are the traditional style ales of Europe that were supplanted by pale imitations of real Lager, the pale fizzy beers that were easier to brew, store and transport.

That's what I thought. But that's what it says on the bottle, lol

[Hennie]

Ah, Druidry at some times is a an exquisite tea and at other times a strong dark ale; at some times it's the coffee drank after a funeral and at other times the champagne at a birth; at some times it's the mead during a ceremony and at other times a drink of fresh water in the morning; but always it is a wonder.

[Merlyn]

but Beer:

is created in a cauldron
makes you feel on top of the world
comes in hundreds of different flavors
is inspired by, but not the same as the iron age version
can cause terrible headaches
and too much takes you straight to the underworld.

Too true.
I see the three sides of Druidry, often mixing in our daily life.
Through the three grades,
Bard... definitely beer
Ovate, working with beer or cider, and trying tea
Druid, tea or all three

I see the two leveling out a bit, head to head, so to speak.
But no matter which, the quality is what speaks out from both. Druids seem to be pointing to the importance of this.

Should this thread perhaps be moved to the Hearthfire or should the discussion be more in the vain of what Dendrias thought initially?

I think we can discuss druidry from two aspects. And after all of the "inside to out" sort of views..
This is more of an Outside looking in way

I note the lack of coffee.. but coming in now with what Druids might see "Life is a cocktail" of things moving through celebration and ritual.
And the introduction of cider.. yum!
Threads take on a life of their own, and how it evolves into druidry and what quality we see in beer or tea is speaking well over all.
Kind of what I expected. This speaks to how druids seek the rich and deep, the healing and the celebration, the "quality" in life.

How each of us sees the question is fun, and discussing druidry can be.
What is a ritual after all, without music, dance, poetry?
And... a cauldron with our favorite tea,

[Dendrias]

Ah, Druidry at some times is a an exquisite tea and at other times a strong dark ale; at some times it's the coffee drank after a funeral and at other times the champagne at a birth; at some times it's the mead during a ceremony and at other times a drink of fresh water in the morning; but always it is a wonder.

Chapeau, Hennie!

Druidry, to me as an outsider, is like green tea (sencha, so to say )
You have to heat fresh water up
then let it cool down
put herbs into a little bag
shower the water over it
wait for the right colour
and it still is too hot to drink at once - for me, that is.

Sounds like a magical ceremony, doesn't it?

[Merlyn]

Tea drinking can indeed be a ritual.
It is in some ways.

Beer drinking is mostly a liberating "let things go for a bit" sort that associates with many forms of recreation, light conversation and in some cases, the end of ritual, such as at a wake.

If you have grandchildren, then you can probably understand how a life can be like a cocktail.

The cauldron can make many things

[katie bridgewater]

Mead surely!

[DJ Droood]

Perhaps most like absinthe, where you chase the green fairy and slowly go mad.

[Merlyn]

I do love mead, and well, have a weakness for honey turkey now..
Haven't quite gotten to see the green fairy, but hey there's still time

[Dendrias]

I've heard of the Japanese tea-ritual, but have no imagination of what could happen, there. But, yes, indeed, sometimes my wife and I can manage to have a cup of tea while just sitting down. Most of the time, the ceremonial aspect is lacking, as we're drinking tea like water. So, we have to find our druidry, I think.

In summer (if there will be one!) there is a famous mediaeval festival, here. I already invited a friend to a horn of mead. Or two.

Have a good night (if there is one at Your part of town).

[Ade Sundog]

I'm now an alcohol free zone , and have been now for a coupla months. AND I FEELS GREAT!!!

So , it's tea for me now -not iced tho .

(Its ironic reading thru this thread , i would drink absolutely anything going)

[Merlyn]

It has been interesting Ade,
I could think of a few others like;
Druidry; Robed or sky-clad. and a lot comes to light.
As serious and soul searching as many of these threads are, our character seems to come out more with the simpler things.

[Aylyn]

Try Sky-clad in a Scottish Summer (or what passes for it ), and you will know why I prefer thick, warm robes .....

As for the beer or ice-tea discussion: Beer, definitely, I am German...