On Sat, 04 Dec 2004 16:51:52 GMT, "Overproof"
wrote this crap:
"Capt. NealŪ" wrote in message
"Horvath" wrote in message
Wuss. I add vodka or rum to my beer, this is called "grog." Real
sailors drink grog.
Like I said - an alcoholic's idea of beer!
Grog is not made with hard liquor and beer... Horvath is being a dumbass!
From the earliest days of sail, men needed liquid during voyages. The
most readily available liquids were water and beer. As there was no
method of distillation or preservation, water was taken on board and
stored in casks, replaced at the end of the voyage or at ports of
call. Beer was also stored in casks and the ration. Water quickly
developed algae and turned slimy, and beer turned sour, so the custom
was to drink the beer before it soured and then turn to water. Stale
water was sweetened to make it more palatable, and was often sweetened
with beer or wine. The original ration of beer for seamen was a gallon
a day, a significant amount to store over a long voyage. As the
British Empire grew and longer voyages became more common, the problem
of spoilage and shortages increased.
The origin of grog lies with Vice-Admiral William Penn, father of the
founder of Pennsylvania. In 1655, during Penn's campaign for Cromwell
in the Indies, Penn arrived in Barbados and captured Jamaica.
Unfortunately Jamaica had few stores of beer or wine. Jamaica did,
however, have rum. Penn, therefore, began the use of rum as a ration.
In the seventeenth century, an early form of rum was known as
"rumbustion." In Elizabeth I's time, privateers and pirates traded in
rum, and it was a liquor well-known to sailors. After 1655, as the
Indies became an increasingly popular port, the use of rum increased.
Although it became common, rum was not part of the "Regulations and
Instructions Relating to His Majesty's Service at Sea" until 1731 at
which time a half a pint of rum was made equal to the provision of a
gallon of beer. In the early days this was specific only to ships in
the West Indies, and rum was not diluted.(1)
http://www.contemplator.com/history/grog.html
Pathetic Earthlings! No one can save you now!