FYI ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Craig Gravina <drinkdrank1@xxxxxxxxx> To: Chad9976 <chadpolenz@xxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 2:17 PM Subject: 1780 Beer Challenge I've been meaning to mention this to you for a while. I'm hoping the Albany Brew Crafters might be interested in participating in a beer and history event out in Middleburgh with Green Wolf and the Middleburgh Libarary I'm organizing. Here's the background for the event: In 1780, as the American Revolution raged, another war—a civil war—was being fought on New York's frontier. New York-born, but Canada exiled Sir John Johnson, his King’s Royal Yorkers and their Mohawk allies, laid waste on a slash and burn campaign to destroy what had once been their own farms and fields in the fertile Mohawk and Schoharie valleys, in order to starve the Continental Army. What Johnson wasn’t expecting was the dogged determination of a rag-tag group of Albany militia and volunteers defending Middleburgh’s fort, led by Colonel Peter Vrooman, and the hero of the battle of Saratoga, sharpshooter Timothy Murphy. Murphy, against orders from his commander, fired over the heads of Johnson’s truce party, shooting the surrender flag out of their hands three times. Under equipped and outnumbered three to one, the patriot’s refusal to give-up cost Johnson precious time on his advance and he eventually withdrew. The delay would help the Patriot forces riding from Albany to catch up with him, and stop his march on the Mohawk Valley a few days later. Because of that history, were going to have a battle of the brews—or as we're calling it the 1780 Beer Challenge—between Middleburgh's own Green Wolf Brewing Co. and MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company, of Bath Ontario which operates on a 229-year-old farm settled by the MacKinnons loyalist ancestors. GW and MB will be brewing two Revolutionary War-ear beers, which will be judged by News Channel 13's Phil Bayly and Deanna Fox, against each other. The loser of which will have to hoist their opponents flag in their brew house for a year. They'll be a winner's prize and People' choice vote as well. Al, Justin and I will be doing short talks at the Library, we have a group of Rev war re-enactors from both Middleburgh and Canada participating, Harvey Alexander a, colonialhome-brewer, will be giving demos, and there will be Green Wolf and MacKinnon Brother beer samples and a little food from local eateries (Under the Nose and Middleburgers). It'll be similar to the Cobleskill event, but less lecture-y and more history interactive—with a a contest thrown in for good measure. Is this something you think the Brew Crafters might want to come out and setup a table at, maybe do some outdoor brewing? Let me know! -C