Cleveland Wine-Revolutionary Beer Dinner

George Washington was a devout beer lover. In particular, he was fond of the dark, English-style brew known as porter, and always demanded that an ample supply of it be kept on hand at Mount Vernon, his Virginia estate. However, it was not porter, but rather “small beer,” for which Washington once recorded an early recipe. There is even a beer recipe in Washington's handwriting on display at Mount Vernon today.

Washington’s recipe relied on molasses for most of the sugar, and molasses and maple syrup were widely used in the brewing process. Sometimes brewers even added tree bark, such as birch, sassafras or spruce for flavoring. The tradition lives on at Anchor Brewing in San Francisco, where its distinctive Christmas beer sometimes includes spruce essence.

Beer played an important role in the early days of this country. Several old posters dating from the 18th century called on citizens to do the “patriotic thing” and drink more American beer and cider instead of the popular rum that was exported by the British. The rum was made with sugar cane grown in British colonies in the Caribbean. Drinking American-made beer or cider helped keep our economy strong.

The early Americans believed in the medicinal value of a good glass of beer. A book published in 1801 in Connecticut reads: "Different kinds of beer, ale, etc., are often prepared according to the prescriptions of the physicians, all of which, as well as pumpkin and bran beer, partake of the virtues of the ingredients put into such liquors.” (from Cincinnati Enquirer, Feb. 19, 2003, and beerhistory.com)

Beer Goddess Vicki Weisent presents. We’ve tapped into a great selection of beers, and paired them with a fantastic menu from Grovewood’s award-winning kitchen. A complimentary recipe book of the dishes served (but adapted for the home kitchen) will be presented.

Full menu at http://www.grovewoodtavern.com/beer%20dinner.htm