Those who bring clothing and tinned food to be donated to a shelter receive a certificate good for a free pint of one of the eight British draughts that always seem particularly fresh here. The pub also boasts one of the nation's best single-malt whisky menus, with more than 70 to choose from. Patrons don't get childish during Boxing Day at Portland, Ore.'s Horse Brass Pub, they start that way. We call it Camp Runamuck. Kids are served free soda, sandwiches and cakes and are entertained by games and special events such as Irish dancing, clowns and magicians.
Parents merely watch.
A version of this column originally appeared in All About Beer magazine in January 1996. 1996 Chautauqua Inc.