18th Century Brewing Workshop — An Immersive History Experience
Come join us for a unique journey back in time at our 18th Century Brewing Workshop with Michael Carver, Historical Interpreter/ Reenactor.
Located at 2807 Jerusalem Rd, Kingsville, MD, USA, this in-person event will transport you to the past as you learn the art of brewing as it was done centuries ago. Get hands-on experience with traditional brewing methods and ingredients while immersing yourself in the rich history of beer-making. Don't miss this opportunity to sip on history!
The workshop will begin in the morning at 10 am. on the lawn behind the historic Lee Mansion. Lunch will be prepared in the 1830 kitchen over a hearth fire.
The Regimental Brewmeister: Michael Carver, Historical Interpreter/Reenactor
"Long before the American Revolutionary War, the British Army in North America learned from the French the importance of spruce beer for treating and preventing scurvy and keeping their soldiers “fit for service.” John Knox, an officer in the 43rd Regiment of Foot, insisted that his troops at Louisburg (1745) be supplied with spruce beer, “this liquor being thought necessary for the preservation of the health of our men.” When British troops were again involved in a campaign against the French in Nova Scotia in 1757, their commander, the Earl of Loudoun, insisted on an allowance of two quarts of spruce beer per man each day. General Jeffrey Amherst, chief of British forces in North America, insisted that the troops be well supplied with spruce beer, “for the health and convenience of the troops.” A brewery was set up at the head of Lake George with each regiment donating one man to help with the brewing. When Amherst’s troops moved north to capture the French Fort Carillon, subsequently renamed Fort Ticonderoga, each regiment took with it eight barrels of spruce beer. Following the British lead, George Washington quickly adopted the use of spruce beer in order to keep his troops fit for service. “The following is the Ration of Provisions allowed by the Continental Congress unto each Soldier. …One quart of Spruce Beer per man, pr diem,…”
The Regimental Brewmeister is my interpretation of what a brewer in HM 43rd would be. It is an amalgamation of Captain Jonathan Gilford from Thomas Fleming’s Liberty Tavern (1976), and my portrayal of a Private in HM 43rd Regiment of Foot."
