The First Gentlemen of Virginia, 1909 John Ward Dunsmore
George Washington wasn’t just the first President of the United States of America, he was also a dog lover!
He kept over 36 hounds for his favorite past time, Fox Hunting. He was also an original breeder for the American Foxhound.
This is why I like George though; he had four Hounds named Drunkard, Taster, Tipler and Tipsy.
George Washington was also a fan of a good porter! In a letter written by his secretary Tobias Lear we see his love of Porter brewed by Philadelphia brewer, Robert Hare:
“Will you be so good as to desire Mr. Hare to have if he continues to make the best Porter in Philadelphia 3 gross of his best put up for Mount Vernon? as the President means to visit that place in the recess of Congress and it is probable there will be a large demand for Porter at that time.”
He even had a recipe for his own beer! How do we not love this guy? Although he was mostly a fan of a good dark Porter, preserved in a notebook is this recipe for small beer:
“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 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.”
I think we should all raise a good dark porter in honor of George Washington’s Birthday!!!!!
Tap Into Leinie 