The 4th of July weekend is upon us and along with all of the fireworks, parades and BBQs, we wanted to remind people of the ways in which craft beer has helped shape this great nation. Craft beer is woven into the very fabric of our society. To understand why, we must take you back to our founding fathers…
George Washington
George Washington was not only our first president, but he was also an avid beer lover. He brewed his own beer while in office, and he also grew hops on his plantation because he liked to keep things local. He was a a hipster before there were hipsters, who believed that craft beer was the only kind worth drinking and although it might have been his responsibility to lead the young Americans to the pub to drink, he wasn’t going to force them to drink his delicious craft beer.
“It is not my job to convince anybody they should drink craft beer.” Washington is quoted as saying, “It’s my job to make amazing beers. It’s simply for somebody else to decide for themselves if they like it or not.” When asked if most people would like his beer, Washington scoffed and said. “…we don’t make things that most people think they like. The people who do like what we do love what we do – since we do it with passion, integrity and character.”
Thomas Jefferson
Not only did our 3rd president brew beer on his plantation which sported his very own beer cellar, but he also carried two ale glasses with him whenever he traveled, painting him as a special brand of beer connoisseur. When discussing the beer brewed on his plantation he stated, “There is good and evil in the world, our beers are good.” Well said, Tommy Boy, well said.
Benjamin Franklin
Ben Frank is known for his sharp wit, fabulous fashion sense and as his ideas on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He also loved beer and although he never said his oft quoted, “Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy.”
In our extensive research we did find that he invented the rocking chair, he opened the first American insurance company and he stressed out about brewing beer that helped found a nation.
“I’m bullish on this whole thing, but I tell them I’ve experienced every emotion in my brewhouse.” Franklin has been reported as saying, “I’ve been on my knees — a 45-year-old man, on my knees — crying like a baby in front of a fermenter wondering: “When is this going to change?”
So there you have it — Some truly inspiring quotes from San Diego Craft Beer’s Founding Fathers. Can you guess which founder said which quote without clicking on the links?
Above all, Happy Independence Day and make sure to toast all of the fantastic craft beer made in this great U-S-of-A!
By Ralph the Raccoon
7/1/16