FREDERICK — The National Museum of Civil War Medicine and a local brewery are teaming up to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Brewer’s Alley in Frederick is gearing up to release the third beer in its Civil War series in March.
Antietam Ale and Proclamation Porter were the first two beers in the Sesquicententennial Series of Beers. The third will be the First Draught – to commemorate the war’s first draft.
“The overall intent is to kind of just give a sense for the experience of the war from the beer drinkers perspective in a way. It’s like history in a glass,” Brewer’s Alley brewmaster Tom Flores said.
In an area rich with civil war history, the task of creating a beer to mark the anniversary is not one the brewery takes lightly. “It’s very serious business to commemorate that event only 150 years ago,” Flores said.
First Draught will be a Belgium-abbey style with fruity notes and some spiciness.
The beer is brewed by Monocacy Brewing Company, on tap at Brewer’s Alley and sold at liquor stores throughout Maryland. The pub already sold out of Proclamation Porter and expects First Draught to be just as successful.
The fourth beer will Gettysburg Wheat, set for release in July.