Our great country was defined by a few inalienable rights: “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” — a pursuit that often feels more in reach when it involves drinking beer.
But don’t take our word for it. Gothamist is reporting that America’s first Commander in Chief, George Washington, was himself a big fan of the sudsy concoction — he even had his own personal recipe.
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On May 23rd, the Coney Island Brewing Company will be partnering with the New York Public Library to reproduce the patriotic brew — dubbed Fortitude’s Founding Father Brew — for guests at the Library’s Centennial Gala. Unfortunately, the beer will not be sold commercially, though the general public will have a chance at a pre-tasting on May 18th at Rattle N Hum in New York City.
Here’s the original recipe as the guy on the dollar bill intended:
To Make Small Beer
Take a large Siffer [Sifter] full of Bran Hops to your Taste. Boil these 3 hours then strain out 30 Gall[ons] into a cooler put in 3 Gall[ons] Molasses while the Beer is Scalding hot or rather draw the Melasses (sic) into the cooler & St[r]ain the Beer on it while boiling Hot. let this stand till it is little more than Blood warm then put in a quart of Yea[s]t if the Weather is very Cold cover it over with a Blank[et] & let it Work in the Cooler 24 hours then put it into the Cask—leave the bung open till it is almost don[e] Working—Bottle it that day Week it was Brewed.
(via Gothamist)
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