The last Founding Father we're celebrating this year, needs no introduction. His is known as "The Father of His Country." He was an American general, commander and chief of the American Revolution, he was involved with the Constitutional Convention which established the US Constitution and became our first president.
The Washington Monument in DC was erected in his honor and becomes a wonderful backdrop during the annual 4th of July fireworks. His face has appeared on postage stamps, the US quarter as well as the $1 bill. And we've all heard the stories of how he chopped down his father's cherry tree when he was young as well as his wooden teeth. But what they didn't teach us (at least at my school) was that this esteemed man, was a farmer as well as a distiller?! Yes, George Washington made and sold whiskey near Mount Vernon! However, he rarely imbibed the fruits of his labor. Instead his preferred libation of choice was dark porter beer that he reportedly spiked with a touch of molasses.
So in his honor, here are a few porter beer cocktails for your weekend enjoyment.
Darkness At the Edge of Town (by fiveandspice)
1 oz gin
1 oz Aperol
4 oz chilled porter style beer
orange wedge
Stir gin and Aperol over ice (about 30 seconds) until well chilled. Strain into glass, add beer and squeeze in the orange wedge.
Stormy Port(er) (by Founders Brewing Co)
3/4 oz dark rum
3/4 oz white rum
3/4 oz overproof rum
3/4 oz Velvet Falernum
1 oz ginger beer
lime
bottle of porter
Quarter one half of the lime and muddle in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add the rums, Falernum, ginger beer and ice and shake until cold. Pour into Tom Collins glass, add ice and top off with porter beer.
Black Velvet
1 part porter beer
1 part champagne
Fill glass half way with champagne. Top off with the porter.
Boilermaker
1 1/2 oz bourbon
1 glass of porter
Sip your bourbon, then your beer. Enjoy. (Play around with the pairings of beer to bourbon/whiskey).