BIRCUS Miss Patterson

This delicately balanced Belgian ale contains an elegant mixture of spices to compliment the present malty sweetness. Straw in color and hazy with a dense ivory head gives evidence of the wheat malt. A refreshing choice for an afternoon.

Anne Lee Patterson (1912-2003), graced with allure, class and talent, was a Ludlow native crowned Miss U.S.A. in 1931 at the age of 18 in Galveston, Texas. Dramatically winning the title over actress Dorothy Lamour by one vote, this blonde beauty queen became the “It Girl” of her hometown and country. That same year she was named runner-up in the Miss Universe Pageant and went on to perform in New York City, first in the Ziegfeld Follies and later in the musical Showboat. In 1932 she returned to Ludlow for a parade where music played through the streets and hundreds marched in her honor, followed by more festive hoopla at the city building. Cheers to Miss Patterson who, during the early years of the Great Depression, instilled pride and lifted spirits in the small town of Ludlow.