Beverige
A very mild tavern drink was beverige; its
concoction varied in different localities.
Sometimes beverige was water-cider or ciderkin; at
other times cider, spices, and water. Water
flavored with molasses and ginger was called
beverige, and is a summer drink for New England
country-folk to-day.
John Hammond wrote of Virginia in 1656 in his
Leah and Rachel:
"Beare is indeed in some places constantly
drunken, in other some nothing but Water or Milk,
and Water or Beverige; and that is where the
good-wives (if I may so call them) are negligent
and idle; for it is not want of Corn to make Malt
with, for the Country affords enough, but because
they are slothful and careless; and I hope this
Item will shame them out of these humours; that
they will be adjudged by their drinke, what kind
of Housewives they are."
Vinegar and water--a drink of the ancient Roman
soldiery--was also called beverige. Dr. Rush wrote
a pamphlet recommending its use by harvest
laborers.
Switchel was a similar drink, strengthened with
a dash of rum. Ebulum was the juice of elder and
juniper berries, spiced and sweetened. Perry was
made from pears, and peachy from peaches.
A terrible drink is said to have been popular
in Salem. It is difficult to decide which was
worse, the drink or its name. It was sour
household beer simmered in a kettle, sweetened
with molasses, filled with crumbs of "ryneinjun"
bread, and drunk piping hot; its name was
whistle-belly-vengeance, or whip-belly-vengeance.
This name was not a Yankee vulgarism, but a
well-known old English term. Bickerdyke says small
beer was rightly stigmatized by this name. Dean
Swift in his Polite Conversations gives this smart
dialogue:--
"Hostess (offering ale to Sir John
Linger). I never taste malt-liquor, but they say
ours is well-hopp'd.
Sir John. Hopp'd ! why if it had hopp'd a
little further, it would have hopp'd into the
river.
Hostess. I was told ours was very strong.
Sir John. Yes ! strong of the water. I believe
the brewer forgot the malt, or the river was too
near him. Faith! it is more whip-belly-vengeance;
he that drinks most has the worst share."
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