Martyn Cornell
@thezythophile.bsky.social
Writer and historian, beer lover
In which I lambast Guinness for the historical errors in its announcement of its Open Gate brewery project in Covent Garden, tell you more than you wanted to know about the massive brewery that once stood on the site, and reveal the origin of the insult "berk" … zythophile.co.uk/2025/05/26/n...
No, porter was NOT named after ‘the porters of Covent Garden, Smithfield and Billingsgate’ - Zythophile
As a historian of beer I am, of course, delighted that Guinness is progressing with its latest Open Gate project in Covent Garden, London, bringing brewing back to the site of the former Woodyard brew...
zythophile.co.uk
May 26, 2025 at 12:09 PM
In which I lambast Guinness for the historical errors in its announcement of its Open Gate brewery project in Covent Garden, tell you more than you wanted to know about the massive brewery that once stood on the site, and reveal the origin of the insult "berk" … zythophile.co.uk/2025/05/26/n...
Just sold seven copies of Around the World in 80 Beers to eager South Americans here in Chile, all signed by the author, of course. This looks likely to be the first time I will fly home with more foreign currency than I came out with …
April 2, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Just sold seven copies of Around the World in 80 Beers to eager South Americans here in Chile, all signed by the author, of course. This looks likely to be the first time I will fly home with more foreign currency than I came out with …
I hate spammers trying to spoof me out of money, but I particularly hate spammers who can't be bothered to reproduce properly the logo of the company they are pretending to be, or get that company's address right
March 28, 2025 at 12:56 PM
I hate spammers trying to spoof me out of money, but I particularly hate spammers who can't be bothered to reproduce properly the logo of the company they are pretending to be, or get that company's address right
Ooo look, an email telling me to click here for my TV licence refund – from 100095845@est.uasd.edu.do. Sure looks legit to me …
March 19, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Ooo look, an email telling me to click here for my TV licence refund – from 100095845@est.uasd.edu.do. Sure looks legit to me …
Why is porter called porter? You'll find the explanation, and much more about porter and stout, in the interview with me by Andrew Taylor, who runs the Nant Fawr Brews podcast, here bit.ly/NFB_Porter
Porter - Myths, History and Mass Popularity by Nant Fawr Brews
Porter is a fantastic beer style. Dark, tasty... and never far away from a story (many of which may not be accurate!). Even the name itself - Porter - is often misunderstood (listen to the episode to ...
bit.ly
March 14, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Why is porter called porter? You'll find the explanation, and much more about porter and stout, in the interview with me by Andrew Taylor, who runs the Nant Fawr Brews podcast, here bit.ly/NFB_Porter
Roger Protz is a very very nice man www.hertsad.co.uk/news/2498113...
Beer column: Fascinating book explores brewing in Hertfordshire
St Albans beer columnist Roger Protz on 'Brewing in Hertfordshire' by Martyn Cornell, which shows the history of brewing in the town.
www.hertsad.co.uk
March 10, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Roger Protz is a very very nice man www.hertsad.co.uk/news/2498113...
Soon as I saw this golden cauliflower in the local greengrocer’s, I knew exactly what I was going to do with it … a big lump of Sly Fox red Leicester from the cheese counter at the deli in Church Street, and supper is properly sorted
February 25, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Soon as I saw this golden cauliflower in the local greengrocer’s, I knew exactly what I was going to do with it … a big lump of Sly Fox red Leicester from the cheese counter at the deli in Church Street, and supper is properly sorted
A victory for accurate beer history! Although I was disappointed to see someone in the comments say that porter was named after “the London market porters …” – I thought I crushed that one 22 years ago …
February 10, 2025 at 6:45 AM
A victory for accurate beer history! Although I was disappointed to see someone in the comments say that porter was named after “the London market porters …” – I thought I crushed that one 22 years ago …
Stuck for a present for the beer lover in your life? Around the World in 80 Beers travels from Norway to New Zealand, looking at well-known brews, such as IPA and pilsner, the more unusual, such as Kölsch, rarities such as Gose and the truly obscure, such as chibuku. Buy it here bit.ly/3ZIV1Yw
Around the World in 80 Beers
Come with us on a beer-fuelled journey crisscrossing the globe, taking in every continent and more than 40 different countries, as we discover the huge…
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
December 17, 2024 at 6:36 PM
Stuck for a present for the beer lover in your life? Around the World in 80 Beers travels from Norway to New Zealand, looking at well-known brews, such as IPA and pilsner, the more unusual, such as Kölsch, rarities such as Gose and the truly obscure, such as chibuku. Buy it here bit.ly/3ZIV1Yw
That's it. The endorsement by the vile, dangerous and comical Musk of the vile, dangerous and comical Farage has finally made me quit Twatter..
December 17, 2024 at 6:16 PM
That's it. The endorsement by the vile, dangerous and comical Musk of the vile, dangerous and comical Farage has finally made me quit Twatter..
You don’t get THIS at the SIBA Awards …
December 11, 2024 at 7:28 PM
You don’t get THIS at the SIBA Awards …
Fat-faced idiot burbles on at audience of bemused Poles
December 11, 2024 at 11:53 AM
Fat-faced idiot burbles on at audience of bemused Poles
Not even 10am on a Sunday and we’re all already seven beers in …
December 8, 2024 at 8:49 AM
Not even 10am on a Sunday and we’re all already seven beers in …
Here I am in Krakow, two beers in and it’s all been excellent so far …
December 7, 2024 at 7:49 PM
Here I am in Krakow, two beers in and it’s all been excellent so far …
I confess to being quietly pleased that several of the illustrations in my new book on the history of brewing in Hertfordshire are on the walls of my flat …
November 22, 2024 at 7:54 PM
I confess to being quietly pleased that several of the illustrations in my new book on the history of brewing in Hertfordshire are on the walls of my flat …
My second book this year, now available to purchase in all good bookshops, and a few rotten ones as well www.amberley-books.com/current-mont...
Brewing in Hertfordshire
The story of the county's brewing history, supported by a fascinating selection of rare and previously unpublished images.
www.amberley-books.com
November 20, 2024 at 11:32 AM
My second book this year, now available to purchase in all good bookshops, and a few rotten ones as well www.amberley-books.com/current-mont...
Stephen Beaumont is a very, very nice man
November 16, 2024 at 2:29 AM
Stephen Beaumont is a very, very nice man
The line-up for today’s Camra aged beer tasting at the Pineapple in Kentish Town …
November 9, 2024 at 1:36 PM
The line-up for today’s Camra aged beer tasting at the Pineapple in Kentish Town …
If you’ve ever wondered what 1960s keg beer tasted like, Double Diamond is back. And no, it’s really not very good. (Sorry, Jamie …) Also £6.80 a pint …
November 5, 2024 at 6:17 PM
If you’ve ever wondered what 1960s keg beer tasted like, Double Diamond is back. And no, it’s really not very good. (Sorry, Jamie …) Also £6.80 a pint …
Draught Prize Old Ale, 2024 version, 9% abv, £8 a pint …
November 5, 2024 at 9:44 AM
Draught Prize Old Ale, 2024 version, 9% abv, £8 a pint …
I'm thrilled to discover that Prize Old Ale has been brewed again, and the 2024 version is being launched in the coming weeks www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk/products/pri...
Dark Star Prize Old Ale 2024 500ml Bottle
It is an exciting time as we bring back a historic beer that was first produced almost 100 years ago. That beer is George Gales Prize Old Ale which was first released back in 1928. This version of the...
www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk
October 31, 2024 at 12:00 AM
I'm thrilled to discover that Prize Old Ale has been brewed again, and the 2024 version is being launched in the coming weeks www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk/products/pri...
Special 10% off offer for Camra members on my new History of Brewing in Hertfordshire book, due out next month – click on shop1.camra.org.uk and scroll down until you see the cover …
CAMRA Books - CAMRA shop
shop1.camra.org.uk
October 18, 2024 at 11:25 AM
Special 10% off offer for Camra members on my new History of Brewing in Hertfordshire book, due out next month – click on shop1.camra.org.uk and scroll down until you see the cover …
I'm delighted to say that Around the World in 80 Beers is now available as an ebook for just £14.99, a whole £10.01 less than the full-priced hardback www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Around-the-W...
Around the World in 80 Beers
Come with us on a beer-fuelled journey crisscrossing the globe, taking in every continent and more than 40 different countries, as we discover the huge…
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
October 1, 2024 at 8:17 AM
I'm delighted to say that Around the World in 80 Beers is now available as an ebook for just £14.99, a whole £10.01 less than the full-priced hardback www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Around-the-W...
A new bottle of vitamin C pills, literally 90% air. W the actual F.
September 29, 2024 at 12:42 PM
A new bottle of vitamin C pills, literally 90% air. W the actual F.
TL/DR: Everything you read about the Hymn to Ninkasi is completely wrong zythophile.co.uk/2024/09/27/n...
No, the ‘Hymn to Ninkasi’ is NOT a recipe for making Sumerian beer - Zythophile
It’s a claim you will find repeated in dozens – possibly hundreds – of places: that the so-called “Hymn to Ninkasi”, a poem in the Sumerian language to the goddess of beer, at least 3,900 years old, k...
zythophile.co.uk
September 27, 2024 at 9:26 AM
TL/DR: Everything you read about the Hymn to Ninkasi is completely wrong zythophile.co.uk/2024/09/27/n...