This week Congress passed and the President signed into law a bill makes June 19th (aka Juneteenth) a federal holiday. Forget that its 156 years too late. This is a move to recognize not just the injustice of slavery in America but also the significant contribution that African Americans have made to the democratic and …
Author Archives: Michael Carver
Save your Shillings!
Okay folks, this is a one time great deal. I just got this from Fort Mifflin regarding next week’s Tavern Night. The Cannonball Tavern lives! Now an indoor/outdoor event with Les and Jobie Ford’s authentic 18th century punch, beer from the Regimental Brewmeister and craft brewery 2SP! Hearty snacks available for purchase or BYO picnic …
Upcoming Event
June 18, 2021 — 5:00pm – 8:00 pmJEFFERSONIAN PICNIC:Did Jefferson ever believe “All men are created equal …?” We all know Jefferson owned slaves. We also know that in 1803, he purchased Louisiana from Bonaparte setting the stage for future displacements, genocides, and other crimes against America’s First Nations. Were “all men” only white Protestant …
Basic Colonial Brewing — The Koelschip
Modern breweries make good use of literally centuries of scientific study in heat transfer and exchange. In our modern breweries, we have highly efficient means of heating and cooling our wort but in in the 18th Century, all of this was much more primitive. Those of you who have cooked over an open hearth or …
The Cordwainer
The English term cordwainer first appears in 1100. Since this date the term cordouan, or cordovan leather, has been applied to several varieties of leather. Today cordovan leather is a vegetable tanned horse “shell,” and like the Medieval cordwain is used only for the highest quality shoes. Since the Middle Ages the title of cordwainer …
We’re Creating a Brewery and You can help
Want to Buy Beer from the Colonial Brewmeister? Help us build a Tavern and Brewery. Perhaps it the pandemic or years of working a job that while I am good at it, I really don’t love but next year, we are taking the plunge and building a new business. In 2026 America will celebrate its …
Continue reading “We’re Creating a Brewery and You can help”
Historical Tidbits
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. June 14, 1775 – The Second Continental Congress creates the Continental Army. Six companies of riflemen are then dispatched to Boston. When the American Revolutionary War broke out in …
Burn Baby Burn
On flag day, we should address the elephant in the room. Some of these elephants get really upset when our national symbol is publicly burned. They are fools! When our flag is retired, it should be cremated. Yes – burned; never thrown out like garbage. Sure, its just a piece of cloth but this simple …
Flag Day
Nothing is quite so awe inspiring as to be on a military installation when Call to Colors is played. EVERTYHING STOPS! EVERYONE turns to the colors and most people salute. This event happens twice each day to remind us of WHY we are there. We are there not for some political agenda in Washington, not …
Beer Recipe: Valley Forge Spruce Ale
The encampment of Continental Army at Valley Forge (12/19/1777 — 6/19/1778) is known as the time of the greatest suffering. By the end of the encampment, almost a forth of the original army had died of disease, exposure, and privation. The food was said to have been both bad and infrequent. Even though food was …
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 