As today is Presidents Day, I thought it would be fun to write about how beer was a part of everyday life for many of the founding fathers and an issue on the minds of some notable presidents.

It is well known that our colonial ancestors thought beer to be an essential part of daily living. Even the puritanical Pilgrims did not see sin and debauchery in a pint of ale. The Mayflower was said to have landed at Plymouth Rock in lieu of a more southerly location due to a shortage of ale on board.

The revolutionary sprit of our founding fathers was nurtured over pints of ale and Madeira in taverns throughout Boston, Philadelphia and Williamsburg. George Washington’s personal favorite was an ale that some describe as porter. His Mount Vernon recipe called for the use of a sifter of hops and three gallons of molasses. I am sure this was a dark, cidery concoction at best, but in those days you used whatever fermentable sugar that was readily available.

Thomas Jefferson would obviously be a fan of modern day hefeweizen. His Monticello honey-wheat beer recipe was flavored with ginger and lemon. Although not traditional in the true Bavarian version, a ginger honey lemon wheat beer may be something you could find among American craft brews today. Jefferson’s pursuit of all things scientific pushed him to study the technical aspects of brewing. He even had plans for a larger scale brewery and cellar at Monticello.

Although never a president, Samuel Adams was a major player in America’s fight for independence. He was a brewer and maltster — who has no real ties to the Sam Adams beer made by the Boston Beer company, which is a far cry from what an actual beer would have tasted like in the 1700s. I can only imagine Sam and a group of his “rabble” getting tanked up on real Samuel Adam’s ale just before throwing the barrels of tea into the Boston Harbor.

I cannot forget to give kudos wherever they’re due. President Jimmy Carter holds a special place in the modern craft brewing revolution, and no its not Billy Beer! He signed the “homebrewing act” in 1978, which legalized homebrewing in the U.S. This act is responsible for unleashing a whole generation of homebrewers, many turning professional and creating such brands as Sierra-Nevada and New Belgium. This in my opinion, was President Carter’s finest moment

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