3 Fun Facts About Beer and Early America

Three fun facts about beer in early American history:

1. In 1754 when George Washington was still a young man, he recorded a beer recipe in his notebook.
2. 20 years later, during 1775, a year before the start of the Revolutionary War, Congress rationed each soldier one quart of Spruce Beer or Cider per man per day. 
3. George Washington became the first President of the newly formed United States of America in 1789. He bolstered his "buy American" policy by indicating he will only drink porter brewed in America.

- by Annaline Dinkelmann

Summer on Stone Street Takes You Back in Time

Summer time is a great time to sit outdoors and enjoy a beer or another beverage on Stone Street.

Stone Street was originally known as "Brouwer Straet" (Brewers Street). In 1632 the West India Company, under leadership of Governor Van Twiller, built a brewery there. During most of the 1700s, the street was called Duke Street. It was later renamed Stone Street because of its cobblestone paving.

The buildings on Stone Street were once stores and lofts built for dry-goods merchants and importers. Construction took place shortly after the Great Fire of 1835. At the time of construction there was neither electricity nor the skyscraper technology. What you see on Stone Street is the scale of the city during the early part of the 1800s- walking down Stone Street gives you a good feel for what New York felt like 200 years ago.

- by Annaline Dinkelmann