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Travel outlook good as motorists go forth on the Fourth

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Remember When: July 4 wasn’t always about fireworks and backyard barbecues

<p>Happy July 4th. This holiday is special since it celebrates the birth of our great nation. Families and friends get together to celebrate the good ol&#8217; USA with cookouts, fireworks and beer. I hope I don&#8217;t need to remind you that fireworks and too many beers do not go together. There is nothing better than a long holiday weekend along with a get together in the back yard with burgers and dogs on the grill and a few good beers.</p><p>As I reflect on this holiday, I think about the men and women who fought against the odds to start what is now the greatest nation on our planet. People don&#8217;t realize that a bunch of rag tag misfits defeated the most powerful force of its time in the British army to pave the way for the democracy we have today. I cannot get enough history when it comes to the Revolution.</p><p>One of the most interesting events that happened during the Revolution was the Boston Tea Party. On Dec. 16, 1773, the Son&#8217;s of Liberty disguised themselves as Indians and threw the entire shipment from the East India Company into the Boston Harbor in protest of the Tea Act. The colonists felt they were being taxed without representation in England. The British responded harshly to this event which in turn escalated into the Revolutionary War.</p><p>It&#8217;s amazing how a simple act of protest involving tea could start a revolution. This fact got me thinking about tea and beer. Is there a beer out there that is made with tea? I was now on a mission to find one which meant trips to local distributors and bars to see if such a beast existed.</p><p>I came upon a variety pack at Wyoming Valley Beverage that actually had a beer brewed with tea. When I found it, I felt like I had found the Holy Grail of beers. This Revolutionary gem of grog was carefully hidden in a sampler case from Shorts Brewing Company in Michigan. As I drove home, my mind swam with thoughts on how this beer would taste. I love iced tea, I love beer, how could it not be good?</p><p><strong>Sight</strong>: After an hour or so in the fridge, it was time to take the plunge and bust open a London Fog. As I poured my beer I saw a cloudy dark brown almost molasses-like color. The head was an off white tan of one finger thick; a beautiful looking beer.</p><p><strong>Aroma</strong>: I lifted my glass to take a whiff of this Revolutionary beer and got a slight crisp aroma of tea. I wonder if Boston Harbor smelled like this after all that tea was thrown overboard. In the background I smelled hints of vanilla along with some alcohol. I was surprised to get the alcohol aroma since this beer has a 5.3 percent ABV. Usually beers with a 10 or higher ABV are prone to this alcohol-like smell.</p><p><strong>Taste</strong>: With my first sip I tasted alcohol, quickly followed by a smooth tea flavor. As this beer went down the hatch I got back notes of vanilla that made the overall taste pretty good. I think the Son&#8217;s of Liberty would like this beer.</p><p>Overall, I was not disappointed with this beer. It had a smooth crisp flavor that lasted through the entire bottle. I would pair this beer with a grilled cheese and a boat load of American fries. You could also pair it with some smoked trout or catfish on the grill with chopped potatoes and peppers.</p><p>When celebrating, remember the colonists who fought for freedom. They will always have a special place in my heart since they are responsible for everything we have today. I hope when you go to buy your beer for the holiday weekend you revolt against the norm and drink something different. You could start your own beer revolution.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Jim McCabe The Beer Meister </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_james.jpg</photo0><caption0>Jim McCabe The Beer Meister </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Jim McCabe</p><p>The Beer Meister</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>The Beer Meister is a new column that will appear twice a month in the Times Leader</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p style="text-align: left;">Jim McCabe is an avid beer enthusiast and the circulation manager for the Times Leader.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

The Beer Meister: A Fourth of July tea party