Quakers have an interesting relationship with drink. The foundation of Quakerism involved the abandonment of wine as a sacrament. During the 19th century, Quakers would be prominent Temperance advocates. They even pushed hot chocolate and root beer as sober alternatives. Today, some Quakers may drink, but always moderately.
Craft beer has now cycled through two or three generations, but the first generation is still around to guide us. In Philadelphia, local homebrew gurus have been involved in the craft beer movement for decades. Their stance on the current craft beer business reflects their concern for beer’s future.
Many of the earliest settlers of colonial Philadelphia drank a lot of beer. When you walk around the historic part of the city, it seems that a tavern or brewery was on every corner. These drinking establishments were a continuation of British culture in the New World, but also facilitated the American Revolution.
Iliyaas Muhammad served in the Peace Corps in Mali where he learned about ginger beverages. When he returned to Philadelphia, he and his wife began selling the ginger infused drinks within their community. Now, Really Reel Ginger is a part of Philadelphia’s bustling Reading Terminal Market where they offer a healthy alternative to soda.
There is another moonshine in the United States of America. It hides on the island of Puerto Rico, where distillers make pitorro out of sugar cane and fruits. Port Morris Distillery in the Bronx brings this spirit to New York and keeps the tradition alive.
The origins of the name Manhattan are muddled in mystery and amateurism for both the New York island and the whiskey cocktail. While the word first pops up on a Henry Hudson Map in 1609, certain ethnographers of the 19th century erroneously thought it meant “island were we got drunk.” Similarly, the origins of the Manhattan cocktail are not entirely known, although it likely emerged in the 1880s.
Oatmeal is a common American breakfast food, but Latin Americans enjoy a similar preparation called avena caliente as a beverage. Mix some oats with milk, sugar, and cinnamon and you have yourself a hot beverage to ward off winter chills. Thanks to the oats, it is also filling.
In New York’s state capital, beer historians are rewriting history. At one point, Albany sat at the pinnacle of American brewing. This forgotten history informs the heritage of beer in Albany, and it may also provide a foundation upon which local craft brewers can develop into the future.
In Central Maine, craft brewing really only took off in the mid 2010s. Before this, many in the greater Bangor area relied on homebrewing to satisfy their taste for interesting beer. Central Street Farmhouse stood at the center of this community which would go on to found several breweries in the area.
Sailors are known for their drunken comportment, but what about lumberjacks? For a while, Maine was the logging capital of America, and when loggers came from the woods into town, they drank plenty of grog. Even in Maine, where alcohol was illegal, Bangor was famous for its saloons and brothels in the so-called Devil’s Half Acre.
One more thing! Check your inbox (Promotional & Junk) for a message from us. Click the link in the email to confirm subscription!