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Thursday, 12 January 2006 00:00 |
JUNEAU - During the month of January, Alaskan Brewing joins brewers all over America in honoring Benjamin Franklin’s 300th birthday by serving Poor Richard’s Ale, a beer specially brewed for the occasion. Formulated to resemble a quaff that Franklin himself might have enjoyed, Poor Richard’s Ale offers the perfect beverage for toasting a man some call “The First American.”
 The Poor Richard’s Ale brewed by Alaskan is based on a recipe developed under the auspices of the Brewers Association, the craft beer industry’s trade organization. A national panel of award-winning brewers and those with an eye toward history reviewed entries in October and chose a beer infused with molasses and lightened with new-world corn.
“Both corn and molasses were common in ale during colonial times,” said Curtis Holmes, Alaskan Plant Manager, “and each would have helped to reduce the colonists’ dependence on imported British ingredients—a fact that would have pleased Franklin.”
Alaskan will offer Poor Richard’s Ale to patrons at its tasting room and select accounts in Juneau starting on January 17 and at the Great Alaska Winter Brew and Barley Wine Festival in Anchorage this weekend. “The slight spiciness imparted by the molasses balances the sweetness of the corn and malt, creating a clean and smooth, warming, slightly spicy, yet balanced ale,” said Holmes.
“Franklin is quoted as saying: ‘Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy,’” said Holmes. “So when the chance to brew a beer to honor him came along, we were happy to become involved. I mean, how can ya not love the guy?”
Benjamin Franklin’s contributions to America included many quotable expressions published in Poor Richard’s Almanack. This publication’s title inspired the name of the celebration beer, “Poor Richard’s Ale”. Now, as in Franklin’s time, most of the 1400 breweries in America are independent businesses with a local clientele making them the perfect place for Americans to honor the contributions of this founding father.
Celebrating 20 years of brewing world class beer, the Juneau-based brewery produces Alaskan Amber, Pale, ESB, and Stout year round. Alaskan Winter Ale, Summer Ale and Smoked Porter make regular appearances in limited amounts. Distribution extends throughout the Pacific Northwest, encompassing Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, California, Nevada and Arizona.
For further information about the national Poor Richard’s Ale program, contact Ray Daniels of the Brewers Association, 312-203-8383 or [email protected]
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