Great Big Tracts of Land, or How I Bought a Castle

NathanialG wrote:
Teneman wrote:

I'm actually not going to use "Here There Be Flagons" as a marketing slogan. While all of us get it, too many 'normal' people that I spoke with didn't. They either didn't know what a flagon was, or didn't get the reference to Here There Be Dragons.

I never thought of those two things being particularly obscure.

Nor did I to be honest. I was surprised when talking to 'real' people just how many of them didn't get either reference, and didn't understand the line at all.

I think we tend to underestimate our geekiness at times.

Yeah, but will the average joe know what a Flagon is?

How about something like Moats & Microbrews?

Edit: Tannhauser'd

1) Beers/Brews on the Battlements, Drawbridge Draughts, Taps in the Tower, Kegs in the Keep

2) You'd better try hard to get some of this available.

Teneman wrote:

I'm actually not going to use "Here There Be Flagons" as a marketing slogan. While all of us get it, too many 'normal' people that I spoke with didn't. They either didn't know what a flagon was, or didn't get the reference to Here There Be Dragons.

If you aren't going to use it for marketing, please tell us it will be hung over the door as you enter the pub.

Man The Beertlments!

Tigerbill wrote:
Teneman wrote:

I'm actually not going to use "Here There Be Flagons" as a marketing slogan. While all of us get it, too many 'normal' people that I spoke with didn't. They either didn't know what a flagon was, or didn't get the reference to Here There Be Dragons.

If you aren't going to use it for marketing, please tell us it will be hung over the door as you enter the pub.

You cut your quote off too early...

Teneman wrote:

I'm actually not going to use "Here There Be Flagons" as a marketing slogan. While all of us get it, too many 'normal' people that I spoke with didn't. They either didn't know what a flagon was, or didn't get the reference to Here There Be Dragons.

That being said it's too immensely awesome not to use, so it's going on a sign in, on, or around the pub. Perhaps over the door to the pub, or on the wall upon which the flagons are hung.

Here There Be Flagons will absolutely have a prominent place in the pub.

And, although I hate to put this one out there yet, will most likely be on the maps of the grounds that we're going to have created. You know, like the maps you get in large hotels when you check in? We're going to make some of those as well, and "Here There Be Flagons" will almost certainly be included on them, no matter what the Queen says.

Quick update: I knocked another hurdle down as of this weekend. There's still one contingency left, and it's a big one, but things are moving along apace.

Now, to tap into the creative collective again. One of the types of events I intend to have at the castle are craft beer tastings. I'll partner up with local and regional microbrewers and people can come out to sample their wares. I'm sure those of you interested in these types of things have seen them at your local beer store.

So I need a name for this series of events. I'd originally planned on "Castle & Cask", but initial (small) focus group testing indicates that a) regular people might not know what a cask is and b) if you don't enunciate clearly it sounds like Castle & Casket, not exactly the association you want.

So any suggestions? So far we have:

  • Castle & Cask
  • Cask & Castle
  • Castle & Keg
  • Castle Brew
  • Something's Brewing (at the Castle) - LouZiffer
  • Drawbridge Draughts - Wordsmythe
  • Kegs in the Keep - Wordsmythe

Edited to add some GWJ submissions.

I'm into this thread way late, but a hearty congrats Teneman.

Assuming the PenCon later this year happens in your digs, I think it's a must-happen thing now.

wordsmythe wrote:

1) Beers/Brews on the Battlements, Drawbridge Draughts, Taps in the Tower, Kegs in the Keep

2) You'd better try hard to get some of this available.

Dragon's Milk will absolutely, positively, without doubt be available, no matter how many distributors I have to go through to get it. That stuff is simply amazing, the sheer appropriateness of the name aside.

chaosmos wrote:

"Castle Brew" definitely gets the point of the event across in a very clear, direct fashion.

+1

"Keg the Castle" will be my additon to the names.

<--- Here be a filthy skimmer.

MeatMan wrote:
chaosmos wrote:

"Castle Brew" definitely gets the point of the event across in a very clear, direct fashion.

+1

It looks like there is already a Castle Brew. Otherwise I would +1 this one too.

Tenemen, is your pub going to feature some sort of flagons for regulars program?

KrazyTacoFO wrote:
MeatMan wrote:
chaosmos wrote:

"Castle Brew" definitely gets the point of the event across in a very clear, direct fashion.

+1

It looks like there is already a Castle Brew. Otherwise I would +1 this one too.

Bah, that's in Canada. We all know Canada doesn't count!

But seriously, I'm not looking to name the pub (I have a name for that already, but not telling until I register it), just to name the beer tasting events. Conflicting with an existing name shouldn't be an issue in that regards.

Costontine wrote:

Tenemen, is your pub going to feature some sort of flagons for regulars program?

Not sure on that one Costontine. I wouldn't mind doing something like that, I'll add it to the list of possibilities.

KrazyTacoFO wrote:
MeatMan wrote:
chaosmos wrote:

"Castle Brew" definitely gets the point of the event across in a very clear, direct fashion.

+1

It looks like there is already a Castle Brew. Otherwise I would +1 this one too.

Easy fix: He can call it New Castle.

Oh wait...

Kegs and Castles
Medieval Microbrews
Awesome Beers At A Cool Place

I hope there will be a brothel.

Quintin_Stone wrote:

I hope there will be a brothel.

Ooooh can I run it?

Quintin_Stone wrote:

I hope there will be a brothel.

+1

Quintin_Stone wrote:

I hope there will be a brothel.

+1

Wow, Costontine really likes that idea.

I know this is jumping the gun a bit, but given your homebrew experience, have you considered a microbrewery / brewpub license for the castle? having on campus ale and mead would be a huge selling point but I am unfamiliar with Ohio laws regarding that.

btw, just reiterating that as clever as words like flagons and casks are, they're too obscure for general public recognition. My vote for a festival at a castle would be "Moats and Microbrews," or "Craft Beer at Castle ****" (whatever you name it if you change it from Ravenwood) or just simply "Ravenwood Beerfest." Simple always plays better at craft beer festivals - this coming from a guy with 2+ years covering the michigan microbrew festival scene.

Cheeto1016 wrote:
Quintin_Stone wrote:

I hope there will be a brothel.

Ooooh can I run it?

Be afraid! Be very afraid.

Seth wrote:

I know this is jumping the gun a bit, but given your homebrew experience, have you considered a microbrewery / brewpub license for the castle? having on campus ale and mead would be a huge selling point but I am unfamiliar with Ohio laws regarding that.

Indeed I have. It's a different license from what we have now, but I've already begun the legwork on it. We're probably a year or three out from it though.

Which gives us just about enough time to experiment with recipes.

And/or to partner with a local micro brewer.

And to modify the physical pub layout.

I've got plans.

So many plans.

Trebrewchet
Keep n Brew

Oubrewlette?

Cheeto1016 wrote:
Quintin_Stone wrote:

I hope there will be a brothel.

Ooooh can I run it?

I'm not sure our tastes would overlap....

Paleocon wrote:

Oubrewlette?

Is that French for "beer goggles"?

(I know it's not, but that's the fanciest way of saying a six pack will make you forget things I've ever seen and it made me giggle. )

Teneman: Off the wall idea, especially given your location relative to I-70, but it might be cool to spin yourselves as a nerd rest-stop on the cross-country nerd pilgrimages we sometimes do. You know, offer discounts or special rates to people traveling to PAX East from the west side of the country, or GenCon in Indianapolis from the east side of the country.

"Stop in and grab a bed with people that understand, etc." I just know that a lot of those wagon-trains get set up around convention time, and if you hook even one of the bigger ones you might have a lot of business. (He says partially talking out of his butt.)

Additional, because you mentioned plans: I'm a filthy skimmer, so I'm not sure where you are in the process vs. when you started the thread. Is your ownership of Ravenwood a 100% done deal? How goes the take-overship process?