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Beer Through History at the Connecticut River Museum

Tastings aren’t just for wine connoisseurs anymore—now they are for beer drinkers with discerning palates as well. In celebration of beer’s rich history, The Connecticut River Museum will host A Glass of Beer History on Friday, March 18 at 7 p.m.

This is the first time the museum is hosting a program such as this and presenter and Connecticut River Museum Director Chris Dobbs has hopes of it becoming an annual event.

“This will be an hour and half long program taking our guests on a 6,000-year journey through the interesting and surprising history of beer, including its sights, sounds, tastes, origins, and science, as well as the important social customs that have been formed around it, and of course we can’t discuss beer without discussing temperance and vice,” said Dobbs, who noted that most of the great American Revolutionary Thinkers held their important meetings in taverns.

Described as more of a “friend raiser” than a fundraiser for the museum, the night will include a presentation from Dobbs and folk musician Rick Spencer as well as a beer tasting with food pairings donated by Deep River’s Pizzeria DaVinci.

The event’s tasting will reflect beer’s evolution. Five beers will be offered, including a barley wine, which Dobbs notes is “considered to be the world’s first beer”; a German-American lager; a classic English-style porter; an India Pale Ale (IPA); and featured local, handcrafted beer by Haddam’s Steady Habit Brewing Company, one of the Connecticut River Valley’s newest microbreweries.

“The history behind beer is really fascinating. It’s fun and exciting to pass this information on to others while at the same time enjoying an evening out with friends, family, and community members,” said Dobbs. “It’s a great way to spend a Friday night at the museum, learning new things and enjoying a beer tasting.”

He added, “Rick [Spencer] and I started this program a while ago at the Noah Webster House; now we have taken it out again, dusted it off, and refined it and people are really taking to it.

“We are not even advertising it and other organizations are hearing about it by word of mouth and it is really catching on,” added Dobbs, who noted the growth of local breweries, many of which have popped up in the state in the last 5 to 10 years.

A little-known fact Dobbs shared is that home brewing of beer was illegal until 1978 when President Jimmy Carter and Congress passed a law allowing it.

In addition to the tasting, history, and food, Spencer, an accomplished folk musician, will join Dobbs with rousing drinking songs that support the program’s themes. They will be accompanied by singer Dawn Indermuehle.

Spencer said, “These songs do more than just support the night’s themes; they expand the audience’s understanding and dive into the social customs and concerns around drink.”

The event is open to the public; however, reservations are required due to limited space. Participants must be 21 or over and show valid ID at the door. Prices are $10 for museum members and $16 for the general public.

For more information and to register, visit ctrivermuseum.org or call 860-767-8269.