Piraat, Pirate, Belgium beer, Belgian beer glasses, Beer Travel, Global Beer Network

PIRAAT: fact 368

Pirates in the 17th and 18th century rejected the strict hierarchy, the harsh slavery work and unquestionable obedience they were subjected to on the military and merchant ships. They lived the life of Liberty, Fraternity and Equality about 100 years earlier than the French Revolution, when these three words became the kernel idea behind that revolution. Drinking a Piraat ale is celebrating my unalienable right to freedom! Cheers.
Newsletter August 2000

PIRAAT FACT 295

June - July 1543: Flemish PIRAAT raids two Columbian cities.

Robert Waal, a Fleming from Wallonian descent, commander of five French Pirate ships attacked the trading cities of Cartagena and Santa Marta in what is now Columbia. These pirates were after the Spanish gold at a time when Spain and France were almost constantly at war. The French named their seamen heroes, and the Spaniards called them Pirates, and killed them without trial as soon as they could lay hands on them.
Newsletter December 2000

PIRAAT: fact 324
Where did the ‘PIRAAT’ Francis Drake land in California?

Historians agree that Sir Francis Drake, a pirate in the eyes of the Spaniards, but a hero in the eyes of the British, landed on the American West Coast on a cold June day in 1579.

Just where, is the question. 1579 is about 16 years before the English made their first unsuccessful attempt to colonize America in Roanoke NC. Drake stayed for several weeks to fix up his ship, and established friendly relations with the natives. He called the area where he landed, and built a fortification, Nova Albion. Once back in the UK, the sailors were ordered not to disclose the exact landing place, which explains why the accounts are sparse and contradictory. Several sites from Southern California to Canada have been named as the landing spot, but historians have not yet come to a conclusion.

For the record: PIRAAT landed first in February 1995 in Long Beach - CA. Today the Piraat can be enjoyed across the larger part of the USA.
Newsletter July 2000

PIRAAT: fact 561

After years of piracy in the North Sea, the German Pirate Klein Henszlein was captured in 1573.
It was in Hamburg that same year that he and his thrity-three men were beheaded.
Let’s behead a bottle of PIRAAT today! Cheers.
Newsletter June 2000

PIRAAT: fact 129
1568: PIRAAT Sir Francis Drake escapes Death in Mexico.

Hawkins’ 10 English vessels, heavily damaged by a hurricane, enter San Juan de Ulua, port of Veracruz in Mexico under false colors, and capture the town. Three days later the Spanish Armada arrives and,
under the rule of a truce, also enter the harbor. The Spanish commander never intended to honor the agreement, and attacks the English fleet in the harbor one day after arrival. Only 2 little English ships can escape. The Minion with Hawkins struggles to reach England with only 15 survivors.
The other vessel is the tiny Judith with the young Drake as the captain. From that day on, Drake’s mission in life is to hurt the Spaniards and their lucrative trade with the new world.
Newsletter April 2001

Piraat: fact 244
1562: Hawkins is first English PIRAAT to hurt the Spaniards in the Caribbean.

Leaving England with three ships for Guinea in West Africa to buy black slaves from the Arabs, Hawkins then sets sail to Santa Domingo in the Caribean where he trades the slaves for treasures. Such a trade being illegal in the Spanish eyes, Hawkins had to bribe the local Spanish commander. The profits of this one voyage were so big, that Hawkins was the richest man in Plymouth on his return. In March 1566, with the help of his Queen, he was able to launch a larger fleet and do the same successful trades again. Athough this time, instead of bribing, he had to use force to convince his Spanish customers. It was then that the Spanish crown declared war on all English ships venturing into the Caribbean waters.

Piraat: fact 243

Eight days after voting for war against England, the US Congress enacted legislation encouraging and regulating Pirating. Ship owners and merchants had anticipated such action against English ships, and on July 1, 1812, less than a week after passage of the legislation, the people of the Eastern States were laboring almost night and day to fit out ships. On July 15, Niles Weekly Register, a Baltimore publication, predicted that in sixty days after signing the declaration of war “there will be afloat from the Unites States not less than one hundred and fifty pirate ships. Sixty five are already at sea today.”

During the beginning of the war, virtually any vessel large enough to carry a single canon and a crew of fifty armed men could hope to capture an English merchant ship, which sailed unarmed since the Royal Navy had swept the French from the sea. This was the time following the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars.

Piraat: fact 325
TIME FOR PIRATES!

A huge success at today’s movies, pirates and pirating was actually legal on our East coast in the early 1700’s.
What happened? King Charles II of Spain died without children in November 1700. Since several heads of State claimed the throne, this provoked an all out war in the rest of Europe.
France united with Spain, and both countries were immediately thrust into head-on conflict with England and the American colonies.
In May 1702, Queen Anne of England issued a proclamation authorizing private ship-owners to seize enemy ships. Given such license to plunder, many Americans signed up.
Between 1704 and 1707, a fleet of 13 privateers (legal Pirates) operated out of the port of New York alone, capturing 36 enemy vessels for a huge profit.
British Parliament renounced its 10% share in all prizes in 1708 yet another incentive for privateers, launching a new boost for Pirating.
In a 10-year period, British and American colonial privateers captured more than 2,000 prizes! The value was in the millions!

Our Pirate beers are considered best in the world. As pirates used to say: “Surrender the booty”.