Back at the turn of the century, New Orleans was a great producer
of beer and coffee, since most of the grain products used to make
both were shipped in and out of the port.

As a boy growing up in New Orleans, I was told that the barrelhouse
was a bar or saloon, which would be described in today's vernacular
as an "outlet store", operated by the brewer.  It was usually an
informal drinking place which grew up nearby the distribution point
for the breweries.

One of my dad's closest friends grew up as the son of a wood carver
who designed and carved some very elaborate mirror backs for the bars
of New Orleans -- but never drank himself.  Boy, the stories _he_ could
tell!  And yes, you could buy a frosted glass of brew for five cents,
and a "Growler"-- a small pail of brew about the size of a
paint can -- for about twenty-five cents.

The barrelhouse was a rowdy place where the street vendors, delivery
wagon drivers and other unsavory, street-smart men would gather and await
for the  distribution of the brew, according to what I was told.

Steve Matta

 [ Thanks for the wonderful story, Steve.
 [ My friend from St. Louis explains about "Growler": "When the spigot
 [ was turned to fill the pail, it 'growled'.  Also -- The baseball park
 [ wasn't allowed to sell beer on Sunday, so on a hot, muggy afternoon
 [ the ball players would send the clubhouse boy to the nearest saloon
 [ with a big pail, and tell him to "Chase the Growler!"
 [ -- Robbie