Betty Stogs

Betty Stogs was a Cornish woman in a folktale. She lived on moorland near Towednack. She had a six-month-old baby but was lazy and dissipated. The neglected baby was cared for by the fairies, who returned it clean and laid upon a bed of moss.[1]

A beer is now named Betty Stogs after this character. With an ABV of 4.0% it is brewed by Skinner's Brewery in Truro and won the CAMRA prize for Champion Best Bitter in 2008.[2]

Betty Stogs beer is also the subject of several songs. Lyrics of one can be found on the Skinners Brewery site [3] whilst the Exmouth Shantymen [4] have their own version, performance of which is on YouTube [5] and chorus:

"Farewell to your wines and whiskies
Your brandies and your grogs
I’d sail the world and back again
For a pint of Betty Stogs"

References

  1. ↑ Robert Hunt, "Betty Stogs and Jan the Mounster", Popular romances of the west of England 1, pp. 95–100
  2. ↑ Ben McFarland, World's Best Beers, p. 85
  3. ↑ http://www.skinnersbrewery.com/song.html
  4. ↑ http://www.exmouthshantymen.com/songbook.php?id=149
  5. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj7syT8s6B4