We had Corona delivered. One xmas when I was 7 or 8, I wanted Cherryade, but none left. I was given a glass of lemonade with a dash of Port to colour it. All good. An our later, I was found in the pantry having downed half a pint of port with a lemonade top. Quite a bit giggly and out of it for the rest of the day and set a dangerous precedent. Loved Port ever after.
Pop where I grew up (Staffs) was Corona in the proper screw-top glass bottles. I recall the pop van had gone, but the corner shop and pub round the corner still used them.
When I was about 14, I read somewhere the instructions for making ginger beer.
A receptacle like a jam jar is used to add ginger powder, sugar and a bit of yeast and water. Leave a day or two on the windowsill with an occasional shake, then add more ginger and sugar every day for a week. Add a bit more water if necessary so the beast remains liquid, and keep warm.
After a while, strain into a pan, add lemon juice and water, heat, then cool. Place into the Corona bottles with a teaspoon of sugar.
The lump of sludge left in the straining cloth can be halved and placed back in the jar. Add a bit more water, a bit of sugar, and it’s off again.
Anyway, me and a few mates got a bit good at this. It is mildly alcoholic, we were making our own booze at 15, but as we were not out causing bother, it was largely tolerated. Our respective fathers found it fairly amusing, a mother or two raised an eyebrow, and all was fairly cool.
One thing to remember about the ginger beer is to vent the bottle as it settles and ferments in the bottle for a week or so. That’s why we favoured the Corona bottle.
I made a batch and went on a Scout camp. And came back to my bedroom full of glass shards, some of which had embedded themselves into the wall.
My dad was at first angry, but then started to laugh. The explosions woke the house up. If I’d have been in bed, that could have hurt.
Luckily we were just about old enough to get in to pubs, so we moved on from making hooch.
Moral? Do not trust Corona bottles.
