Historically, Beer was rarely served cold. Sure “Ice Cold Beer’ from the perspective of the 21th Century seems normal. Today, beer drinkers mindlessly plunge beer into arctic-like baths of ice with hardly a thought, but why? People drink both hot and ice tea, hot and ice coffee, and hot and cold chocolate milk; why not …
Tag Archives: Newspaper
Civilized Men Drink Their Beer from Glasses — and for good reasons!
Valentines Day(2/14) 1873, Joe Johnson of Lockport, New York was celebrating his good fortune. His friend and brewery owner John Gibson agreed to Johnson fulfilling a dream by spending a night in the brewery. It was a ill-conceived celebration; his body was found, head hanging down into a wooden, open-tank of beer. His glee over …
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Captain Cook sailed with Spruce Beer
On August 26, 1768 Captain Cook departed England on his famous voyage aboard the Endeavor. Believing in the healthful qualities of Beer, Cook took along 4 tons of spruce beer. It didn’t last. He had to make several stops along the way to brew more including one notable stop in New Zealand. Want to have …
Gov Franklin made each soldier brew their own beer.
On December 6, 1769 Governor of New Jersey William Franklin (son of Benjamin Franklin) worried about using the colony’s dwindling beer supply to provide British troops with rations. To address the crisis he issued a proclamation: ENACTED: That… in Lieu and Stead of Four Pints of Small Beer hereby allowed each man per day it …
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The Great Beer Flood of London
In 1814 the Meux Brewery of London experienced the catastrophic failure of a 120,000 gallon beer aging tank. The tank released almost all the beer instantly and the surge burst the walls of the brewhouse. Spilling into the street the flood killed 8 people “..by drowning, poisoning, by fumes and drunkenness.” As beer flowed down …
Beer Tax
On October 28, 1644 – Concerned citizens of New Amsterdam (New York City) protested a new tax on Beer. They pleaded that, “…this will probably have to be paid by the poor, who are unable to procure beer for the sick and wounded….” Beer Taxes were a constant complaint of Dutch New Yorkers. It and …
Don Antonio de Medoza
On December 12, 1543 Don Antonio de Medoza granted authorization to Alfonso de Herrera to build and operate a brewery in Mexico City. Truly a landmark event, it was the first brewery in all of the America’s. Want to have the Regimental Brewmeister at your site or event? You can hire me. https://colonialbrewer.com/yes-you-can-hire-me-for-your-event-or-site/
Dangers of “Cold Small Beer”
Next time you think about cracking a can of Budweiser, consider this tale from 1724. An unusual grave marker located in Winchester Cathedral, UK. A memorial to Thomas Thetcher who died on the 12th of May in 1764, in part it reads that he “…died of a violent fever contracted by drinking Small Beer when …
Hot Toddy
The traditional hot toddy formula is simple: Start with a hot cup of tea, add lemon and honey, then a bit of whiskey. This is certain to make even the worst cold feel just a little better. The toddy is believed to have been invented in Scotland sometime in the eighteenth century. It was a …
Switchel
Switchel or “Haymaker’s Punch” is a drink made of water mixed with vinegar, and often seasoned with spices like ginger. It is usually sweetened with molasses or brown sugar. Switchel originated in New England, and it became a popular summer drink in the American Colonies in the late 17th century. By the 19th century, it …
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 