Yankee Brew News Archive

Massachusetts Engineer Wins Bass World Pub Expedition Contest

Originally Published: 01/96

By: Gregg Glaser

The Guinness Import Company of Stamford, Connecticut, importers of world-class beers such as Guinness Stout, Bass ale and Pilsner Urquell, also presents great contests. In 1994, and again this year, Guinness awarded an Irish pub, lease, lock and key to contest winners. Last September 30 was the deadline for Guinness' contest to win ownership of an Irish cottage in County Cork.

Earlier this year, Bass Ale presented the World Pub Expedition contest. Entrants were asked to describe, in 125 words or less, the three people they would most like to share a Bass ale with, and why. The eight winners won an 11-day trip to three international destinations of their choice from a list including Rhodes, Brussels, Paris, Rome, Puerto Rico, Madrid, Stockholm, London, Ho Chi Minh City, St. Maarten, Bermuda, Quebec, Hong Kong, Sydney, Grand Cayman and Hawaii.

Sigmund Freud, Amelia Earhart, Shakespeare, Socrates and Emily Dickinson were among the mentioned companions in the winning entries. Both prose and poetry were submitted.

Glenn D. Harding of North Grafton, Massachusetts, is the sole winner of the contest from New England. Glenn is a 36-year-old engineer for Boston Scientific, a student at Northeastern University and a native of Hudson, Massachusetts. "I'm still in shock about winning the contest," says Glenn. "I've never won anything in my life."

Hawaii, Sydney and Rhodes are the destinations Glenn has chosen for his 11-day trip, which will start next February 11. Glen will travel with his buddy Rich Kaufman of Arizona.

"I'm a fan of dark beers," says Glenn, and "Bass ale is the beer I always buy when I go bass fishing. I thought about asking the contest people for a boat instead of a trip, but the fine print says there are no substitutions."

Glenn's winning entry reads as follows:

The first person I would like to share a pint of Bass ale with would be Charles Darwin. It would be nice to let him know that while things continue to evolve, the great taste of Bass ale remains unspoiled and unchanged.

I would share a pint with Ludwig von Beethoven and ask him if he thinks Pearl Jam's music will have the lasting effect of his timeless compositions.

I would also share a pint with my dad. Without his encouragement to pursue my education, I wouldn't know what questions to ask of Charles and Ludwig.

Bon voyage and cheers, Glenn. I'm getting my pencil ready for the next Guinness contest.