Pub Life
Everytime I’m in the UK, I’m reminded that I find the lack of pubs in the US rather crazy. It’s a cultural thing that never really translated to the US despite the common heritage and love of drink. Which is weird.¹
Obviously, there are a lot of bars in the US. But bars are not the same thing as pubs. Bars are largely where people go to take shots of Patron or whatnot. The UK has those too. Pubs are more akin to a local coffee shop in a way. Yes, the focus is around alcohol, but it’s not quite the same rapid-fire fight or flight — fight, then flight? — of a bar. The fact that many of the drinks, led by the cask ales, are relatively low alcohol-by-volume point to this as well.² It’s just different.
And it’s nice.³ A pub can be a great place to go at lunch time. But it’s a necessity as work comes to a close. It’s a social contract. And, in fact, I recall seeing the first of many non-alcoholic beers in a pub, on tap, years ago. Well before no/low alcohol became increasingly popular in the US. Again, pubs do revolve around drinking, but drinking alcohol is obviously not for everyone. It’s less about that and more about the experience and social dynamic. Well, okay, sometimes, maybe even often, it’s still about that.
Also, cider. Cider was popular in pubs before White Claw grew its tacky nails. Basically, everything popular in pubs is now also popular in the US, just independently. It’s a wonder that a pub didn’t spontaneously pop up around such things. GenZ would love them!
Which, again, is why it’s weird that the US didn’t copy all of this. Yes, we have happy hours. But they’re often at boozy bars or restaurants. Places like Fridays. Yes, T.G.I.Fridays. The flair piece of happy hour joints.⁴ They’re popular, of course, but not the same, obviously. Fish & chips are hit or miss, but we could substitute that element of the pub in the US. And yes, while pubs started life as public houses complete with rooms in which to stay, many are now created without that element and the US could and should do the same.
Also, most pubs have awesome names. Many have fireplaces. And giant leather chairs. What are we waiting for?
Published on August 17, 2021 📆Written from London, England 🇬🇧Written on a 2021 11-inch M1 iPad Pro ⌨️Drinking a cask ale at a pub, obviously 🍺
¹ It’s also, of course, not that weird since pubs, at least as we know them today, only really came into being in the 19th century.
² Yes, I fully recognize that many Americans do or would hate cask ale. The phrase “warm piss” comes to mind… It has grown on me over the years to the point where I prefer it at times, honestly. Not always. But it’s almost the exact opposite of many of the big beers currently popular in the US.
³ This is where people will point out that pubs can get sloppy. Probably a lot more sloppy than many bars, in many cases. Some are also pretty disgusting. Yes, yes, but you all know what I mean.
⁴ For the record, I grew up going to Fridays. I have a soft spot for Fridays. I have a softer spot for Friday’s fully loaded potato skins.
