Bar Keeps in training
Since May 23rd, the Cincinnati Chapter has had an authentic colonial era (Yankee) ale (recipe provided by the brother of past President, George Stewart) on tap and available to the public named “Monty Liberty” at the MPH Brewery in Montgomery, OH.
The story of the beer and the launch can be found on the Cincinnati SAR website blog articles. You can learn more via the links below:
https://cincinnatisar.org/debut-of-yankee-ale-mph-brewery-in-montgomery-friday-may-23rd/
https://cincinnatisar.org/kicking-off-memorial-day-with-a-splash-of-special-ale/
By all accounts, the beer has been quite popular and has sold well. People like the idea of a beer that was consumed in Colonial America 250 years ago being available, and they are more than willing to give it a try.
Monty Liberty is up on the board!
Besides being on tap at the brewery, MPH has brought “Monty Liberty” to most if not all their special events since the launch, including all the city of Maderia and city of Montgomery’s Independence Day festivities. This has significantly increased its public exposure. Many have tried it. and most who have like it very much.
Ah, how refreshing!
On average, the beer is currently rated an average of about 4 of 5 on untapped.com, a website where people voluntarily rate craft beers they have tried.
https://untappd.com/b/mph-brewing-monty-liberty/6277421
On July 1st, the Cincinnati Chapter held a fundraiser at MPH Brewery during the hours they were open from 4-10 pm on that Tuesday before Independence Day weekend.
Even the Patriots and the British can agree on beer!
We had a series of “Guest Bartenders”, some portraying famous, infamous, and not so famous Revolution War personalities. During one shift, a British soldier was forced to serve the Colonial Ale to American Patriots and citizens. Samual Adams, America’s Brew master, also, served a shift.
George Stewart and Ed Bonniwell enjoy the festivities
MPH quickly posted a few pictures on their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16TvQca1BD/
It was the first time the chapter has ever done an event like this and of course having our “Monty Liberty” colonial era ale on tap there helped facilitate it.
Welcome to all!
People arrived over the course of the evening. Some could only stop by for brief time, and others stayed for hours.
Welcome to all!
We very significantly enhanced MPH’s business on that day, which would have otherwise been a relatively slow Tuesday. At the peak early evening, it was quite busy. The inside seating was full, and the patio and deck outside were about half-full.
Enjoying a pint with old and new friends
Fourteen Cincinnati Chapter members attended the event, many uniform, colonial attire, or SAR attire. Several attended that we do not see on a regular basis which was terrific.
Many members and attendees brought family and/or friends. There was a very good showing of DAR members from several chapters as far away as Middletown, and we also had significant attendance from several other like-minded organizations as well, including local historical societies and members of the local Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) camp who are not SAR members. Denny Brown of SUVCW Lytle Camp in Cincinnati even served a shift as guest bartender.
Participants from the Daughters of the American Revolution
A split the pot raffle raised $180 for the chapter, plus the winners, Cincinnati Chapter member Mike Galvin (and wife DAR member Becky) donated $100 of their winnings back to the chapter. So in total the split the pot raised $280.
Come on, pony up some cash for “split the pot”
We are still waiting to see how much proceeds from the beer sales will be donated to the chapter. We will also receive a portion of that day’s sales of the “Monty Liberty” and another lighter “Blonde Ale” that we renamed “America 250 Light” for the occasion.
Enjoying the company of others
We had a big presence, and we did succeed in having almost everyone at the establishment that day, even those not there for the fundraiser, trying (if not exclusively drinking) the two beers that benefited the chapter.
This colonial beer project and the fundraiser were done primarily to raise public awareness to America 250, get publicity for the chapter, and let people know who we are and what we do (and that we have a good time doing it), and just to have a fun family-friendly summer social event. Any money raised is just gravy, but in 1 ½ months we have gotten some good exposure and publicity from the endeavor.
Can we just get along?
This first batch of Colonial Era Ale is expected to last most of the summer, so stop by and try one when you get a chance. We hope it will be successful enough that additional batches (of the same or different colonial era ales will be brewed and on tap through 2026).
For more information and hours of the MPH Brewery, please click on the link below:
Congrats to Scott Freeman for organizing the event and George Stewart for getting his brother to share his special brew recipe for the MPH team to produce locally.
