It began as I discovered Beery Reservoir in northeastern Montana appearing on my screen (map). For once I decided to avoid overthinking the reference and have fun with it while wondering how awesome it would be to have a reservoir of beer. Don’t expect a lot of intellectual curiosity or historical background today, just beer-themed places that sounded funny and maybe a pun or two.
Frankly, the number of beery entries listed in the US Geographical Names Information System surprised me. So I selected a few of the best.
Beer Run
In my earlier years, a beer run was what we used to do when we thought we might finish the beer before the party ended and had to dash to the nearest convenience store before it closed. Of course we needed to time this well since Virginia didn’t allow off-premise beer sales after midnight. Fortunately that hasn’t been a problem in a long time for me. I can’t imagine being awake after midnight today and certainly not drinking. The Urban Dictionary included other definitions too; like walking into a store, grabbing a six-pack and running out without paying. Don’t do that.
Geographically the term “run” means stream or creek in certain pockets of the United States including Virginia. Thus, an example familiar to readers might include Bull Run, the site of two famous Civil War battles fought in the Commonwealth. The Union army often named battles after a nearby body of water.
Beer Run flowed past Frozen Toe Road. I’m sure there was a joke in there somewhere.
Beer Airport
Pilots sometimes lose their jobs for consuming alcohol anytime close to flight time, so Beer Airport sounded like a disaster waiting to happen. The “airport” — and I used that term loosely here — amounted to a thin grass strip set between two plowed fields in rural Wisconsin.
The Federal Aviation Administration maintained records on every airport including this one. That let me to look it up on AirNav.com. It seemed that Beer Airport was a private field, 2200 x 60 ft. (671 x 18 m) with a 40 foot high powerline at the end of the runway (all clearly visible on Street View). It listed Richard Beer as owner and Dan Beer as manager, thus explaining the name they selected for the facility. The Beers operated two single engine airplanes and an ultralight from their personal airport.
I’m impressed by the things one finds on the Intertubes. It turns out Richard Beer also appeared in TruckCompaniesIn.com.
“Richard L Beer is a Carrier truck company located in Hudson, WI… United States DOT (Department of Transportation) number is 560700… employs 3 truck drivers as owner operators or company drivers. Leasing opportunities may be available. Richard L Beer’s commercial over-the-road transportation services may include specialized, flatbed, or heavy haul driving. 3 of Richard L Beer’s trucks include auxiliary power units.”
The Beer family had a wonderful fascination with machines.
Beer Can Pond
I found no additional information on Beer Can Pond. I enjoyed the name and the Street View image was nice. That was all.
Beer Cemetery
In heaven there is no beer.
(traditional Polka)
That’s why we drink it here
When we’re gone from here,
all our friends will be drinking all our beer
On the surface it seemed that the Beer Cemetery in Fulton Co., Illinois (map) might have been an attempt to deliver a few creature comforts into the afterlife. It wasn’t of course. Actually, the cemetery was the final resting place for an extended family of about forty people, many named Beer. A gravestone listing suggested that it was active in the second half of the 19th Century and into the early 20th Century. The site later fell into neglect, judging by individual grave markers.
Root Beer Falls
I figured I’d also throw a bone at the teetotalers who suffered through the rest of this article, bless their hearts. GNIS recorded Root Beer Falls in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, in Gogebic Co. (map).
This is Tahquamenon Falls, also located on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, however on the opposite side nearly five hours away by car. I found next to nothing about Root Beer Falls, however I found tons of information about Tahquamenon Falls which many people called Root Beer Falls informally.
“The Tahquamenon River flows 94 miles from the Tahquamenon Lakes into Lake Superior, and its falls are sometimes affectionately called ‘Root Beer Falls’ because of the water’s distinctive color. The flowing water has a rich, deep brown color, which is the result of tannic acid produced by decaying hemlocks, cedars, and spruces along the river’s banks.”
Source: eyeonmichigan.com [link no loner available]
Got that? Root Beer Falls was completely unknown except to the US Geological Survey. Meanwhile, a much better Root Beer Falls was officially called Tahquamenon Falls.
Somewhat Related
We snagged tickets to SAVOR 2014 during the American Homebrewers Association pre-sale period today. Rumor has it they sold out in two minutes. Life is good. Any other 12MC-ers attending?
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