Not Just for Pancakes
George Washington had his own beer recipe. It actually sounds a little scary: bran hops, yeast and molasses. Molasses? I guess I haven't lived enough. I'd never heard of molasses as a beer ingredient. According to Homebrew.com, it's a common ingredient in "small beer" (which is how they have labeled GW's concoction). The same site reproduced GW's recipe in a legible format:
Take a large Sifter full of Bran Hops to your Taste -- Boil these 3 hours. Then strain out 30 Gall. into a Cooler put in 3 Gallons Molasses while the Beer is scalding hot or rather drain the molasses into the Cooler. Strain the Beer on it while boiling hot let this stand til it is little more than Blood warm. Then put in a quart of Yeast if the weather is very cold cover it over with a Blanket. Let it work in the Cooler 24 hours then put it into the Cask. leave the Bung open til it is almost done working -- Bottle it that day Week
Mind Games
If it's good for the soul, it's good for the mind: Red wine and chocolate are good for the mind and even better when consumed together, scientists claim. They recommend a glass of Merlot and an after-dinner chocolate mint. Based on my reading, it sounds like the combination has many of the same effects of an energy drink, which I still drink occasionally, especially if I'm grappling with some intense recreational reading. Maybe I'll try the wine and chocolate route, but instead of a glass of Merlot and mint, I'll try a Hershey bar and a bottle of Boone's Farm.
