Barbara Strudensky, 1935-2006
April 14, 2009
I’ve carried ^this in my wallet – all around the world – since 2005 (?). Every so often I reshuffle my permanent collection of obsolete/bootless business cards, as I did today.
Barbara Strudensky (RIP) was half the reason I would trek down to Émile Bertrand‘s (RIP). Other half being, of course, the spruce beer:
Thankfully, the ‘concoction’ lives on in Point St-Charles. I’m so grateful it didn’t disappear altogether.
…However, I’m sure many would admit that it’s “just not the same” without that murderous three-packs-a-day of cigarette smoke hanging in the air as you drank more bière d’ épinette than you could reasonably hold. Sadly – but not unexpectedly – Ms. Strudensky died of lung cancer in 2006.
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Ah, the steamies and the Spruce Beer. I miss that place…
We were lucky, we grew up with Marcos, before it was sold to some industrial softdrink maker.
I’m a homebrewer of some repute, once made an alcoholic version using the ancient Quebecois family recipe.
Thanks for the site. kwd…
Thank you for the note. I can’t imagine Marco drinks as anything other than industrial.
[PS: Support Paul Patates!]
Ah,but no.
The original Marcos Spruce Beer ca. 1970 was available in Verdun when I was a kid. Yow! Just like my Tante Germaine used to make.
Under the label “Marcos” they’ve started the original production type again, real yeast. Found some yesterday at the local grocery store.
But it’s bloody expensive. And it’s much too sweet for my taste.
Let’s boil a tree, and eat hot dogs this upcoming summer… :-)
thanks. kwd…
Always happy to meet/learn from home brewers. I don’t know any in Mtl.
Yes, and I find the Marco too sweet as well. Like a compromise between the soda pop version of spruce beer and the real thing. Maybe to lure in da kidz?
sure miss that MARCOS spruce beer,used to get it in ville lasalle in the 80′s funny ,i just 6 or 7 empty bottles cleaning up this last weekend.wife brought home a 500ml. of marco from i.g.a, to my best recolection the taste is different than marcos may want to try my hand at making some myself as i got these empties ,and want to drink some more,if i remember it was 2.50 for a much larger bottle back then. hummm.anyone want to explain to me how to make my own ?? guy
Short of boiling up spruce bows, you need spruce essence, usually found at homebrew shops. A tiny bottle makes 5 gallons. My family used to make spruce beer with baking yeast (Fleishmanns), but I find a good beer yeast does a better job. Now whether you want to brew it in the bottles or do a proper primary fermentation in a 5 gallon bucket is another question. Interested? Let me know. Ah, the old Markos…
The bucket > Émile Bertrand’s > old Marco’s > new Marco’s > warm retsina > President’s Choice spruce soda
There – it’s settled.
“was thinking of douing it the hard way,but i may try the essence way first,for sure in the pail or large glass bottle ,how about a 20 ltre water bottle ?will visit the brew shop in pointe-claire on friday .found a receipe (kramer’s cycling tour)last night,what do you think ? guy”