![]() ![]() Hugh Brontë is said to have rubbed train oil (whale oil) on the stick using chamois leather, and applied magpie blood to give it a darker appearance. One isolated case of this brining method being used, by Charlotte Brontë's uncle named Hugh, has been documented. ![]() The saltwater, being a hypertonic solution, would pull moisture from the shank with little warping. Rarer still was brining, where the shank was placed into a basin of saltwater. Some examples may just be given a coat of black paint. A further coat of special soot finish may be applied, or a mixture of black lead and grease rubbed on with woolen cloth to a polishing finish. The stick may require protection from its dung bath by being wrapped in well-greased oiled brown paper (steeped in hog's lard or oil).īoth of the previous methods would be finished with oils or sealants, etc. The less frequent methods were to bury the shank in a dung pile, or in slaked lime. Most commonly, the chosen wood would be placed up a chimney to cure for a duration of several months to several years the accumulated layer of soot gave the shillelagh its typical black shiny appearance. Wood from the root was prized since this would be used for the knob and was less prone to crack or break during use. With the scarcity of oak in Ireland the term came increasingly to denote a blackthorn stick, and indeed blackthorn stick is sometimes glossed as equivalent to shillelagh. Shillelaghs are traditionally made from blackthorn (sloe) wood (Prunus spinosa) or oak. Other spelling variants include shillelah, shillalah, and shillaly. It is associated with Ireland and Irish folklore. It is a medium bodied beer with sweetness and a slight earthy hop note.A shillelagh is a wooden walking stick and club or cudgel, typically made from a stout knotty blackthorn stick with a large knob at the top. Shillelagh Irish Ale has a slight amber hue. ![]() ![]() Irish beers were lightly "spiced" with indigenous herbs called “gruits.” When hops finally arrived, Irish brewers immediately adopted them, contributing a slight earthy character to round out the sweeter, toffee, and roast malts. In the old days, hops were not native to Ireland. Brewers would use "darker", more roasted malts that were more favorable to the water chemistry, hence making the color a little reddish and delivering malt tones of caramel, toffee, and a slight roast flavor. However, the Irish Red Ale has an even older history than Porter or Stout being cited in literature as early as the 8th century. Shillelagh Irish Ale evolved from the Irish Red Ale – a slightly less popular cousin of Irish Porters and Stouts. If you wonder where you might have seen a Shillelagh before… take a look at the logo for the Boston Celtics… or watch what the leprechaun from Notre Dame carries onto the football field…or examine Gandalf’s staff a little closer. Today, the shillelagh is an icon of Irish culture and pride in being Irish. In Ireland, the shillelagh was the gentlemen’s weapon of choice – used in a manner similar to dueling pistols or swords to settle disputes. After removal from the heat source, the stick is rubbed with oils or sealants to yield an even deeper dark glimmer. Generally made from blackthorn, these sticks were traditionally placed in a chimney for several months to give the shillelagh its black, shiny appearance. Gather you’re friends and order a She - ˈlā - lē then step and repeat to an Irish beat!Ī shillelagh is an Irish walking stick or club with a large knob at the top. When you break it down it’s fun to say and is about to be a delicious part of your St. (We suggest you practice with a print in your hand). First, let’s start with the pronunciation with a little help from our friends at Websters. ![]()
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