Ales of the Revolution

Looking for a special potable to serve among Masonic brethren at your next table lodge (or offsite feast, if your jurisdiction so dictates)? How about beer crafted from the recipes of two of Masonry's most famous brethren, Washington and Franklin?

In 2003, Yards Brewing Company of Philadelphia partnered with the City Tavern — a favorite Philadelphia haunt of the nation's founding fathers — to create Ales of the Revolution, a line of historic beer recreations based on the original recipes of George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. In fact, Yards' brewery is located just a few blocks away from the site of Robert Hair's brewery, where Washington's favorite beer, Philadelphia Porter, was brewed.

From the Yards Brewing Company website:

General Washington's Tavern Porter

Days of debate and deliberation at Independence Hall were often followed by nights of debate and deliberation (and a few libations) at the City Tavern, where our forefathers would gather to exchange revolutionary ideas.

Rich and warming with a deep garnet hue, the molasses-based Tavern Porter reflects Washington's admiration of Philadelphia-style porters and follows a recipe Washington used himself, when brewing beer to satisfy his thirsty field officers.

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Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce Ale

Brewed to celebrate Ben's 300th birthday.

Whether Ben Franklin ever said, "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" is up for debate. Some say he said it, others say he didn't. No one knows for sure.

Historical facts or fictions aside, Yards Brewing Company has recreated Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce Ale™ to celebrate Franklin's affinity for fine ales. Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce Ale is based on Franklin's original recipe, which called for spruce essence and molasses, as barley and hops were not readily available at the time.


Also available is Thomas Jefferson's Tavern Ale, based on his own original recipe, which included ingredients specified and grown on his Virginia estate of Monticello.

(H/T to Ken Davis)