On this day in 1892, J.R.R. Tolkien was born. You might have noticed that there’s a fair amount of drinking in his books, especially considering they were originally written for children. Which poses the question. Did Tolkien drink? Of course, he did. Could you honestly imagine all those fantastical ideas springing from the arid and unirrigated mind of a teetotaler? Tolkien was especially fond of beer and didn’t care who knew about it. He spent a good slice of his life in pubs, socializing, discussing ideas with other writers, and, of course, knocking back pints. Top quote: “Ho! Ho! Ho! To the bottle I go, To heal my heart and drown my woe, Rain may fall, and wind may blow, And many miles be still to go, But under a tall tree will I lie, And let the clouds go sailing by.” Recommended drink: Try to get your hands on a pint of E.S.B., which stands for extra special bitter, if you can. Failing that, have a pint of English beer.
