Independence Day is coming up. It always reminds us of a trip we took to Philadelphia some years ago. We were on a mission to find our new (and current) bottling line. Aside from that, being history buffs, we took advantage of the great historical sites. We toured Independence Hall, we saw the liberty bell, and we were left wondering what life was really like at the time of the writing of the Declaration.

Now, we never stop being brewers. What that means is that every tour and museum is always looked at from a brewer's perspective. We had previously toured Mount Vernon, Washington's home, as well as Monticello, Jefferson's home, and duly noted that each was equipped with on-site breweries (that's right, arguably two of the greatest names in American history brewed their own beer... at their own breweries). But those places were far from Philadelphia, relatively speaking. Being several thousand miles from home, ourselves, we could empathize; where in Philadelphia could a visiting representative get a good beer? Of course, now there are hundreds of bars where one can find great local beer, but how about then? We knew the founders (most of them) enjoyed a good pint as much as anything, perhaps even more than their beloved tobacco. So, where did they go?

We decided to approach one of the folks dressed in period garb on the grounds of

Independence Hall, (he looked a little like Ben Franklin, actually), and ask this very question. Never leaving character, he looked at us coyly and said, "Why, the City Tavern, of course". He looked us up and down and added with a sniff, "If they'll have you..."

Actors...

Anyway, insults aside, we got directions, thanked him and went on our way. Just a quick walk down Chestnut and a quick right on 2nd St. and there it was, just as it had always been. Well, at least perfectly restored to how it had always been. But this was it, the City Tavern; the place we knew in our beer loving little hearts had to exist. You see, we know nothing of any importance gets done in stuffy hearing rooms and wood paneled chambers. It happens in the lobbies and hallways and, of course, the closest bar...

And boy did we find it, this is from their website, www.citytavern.com:

"When John Adams arrived in Philadelphia in August of 1774, to attend the First Continental Congress, he was greeted by leading citizens and immediately taken to the tavern he would call "the most genteel tavern in America." The tavern Adams referred to, City Tavern, was not yet a year old and was already caught in momentous events. A few months earlier, Paul Revere had ridden up to the Tavern with the news of the closing of the port of Boston by the British Government."

And, of course, two years after that, we said thanks to King George, but no thanks. We can do this on our own. Fueled, undoubtedly by well made Porters, Stouts and strong ales... Oh, and liberty, and justice and all that...

But think about it; beer has a revered, and dare we say, essential, role in the framing of our nation. The majority of the Declaration's finer points were argued over at the City Tavern, over a beer. Beer was the lubricant used to cast off the shackles of tyranny, the drawing point to bring great minds together, the liquid courage to bolster the timid into saying, "You know what? We can do this!!"

So, as the fireworks ring in another year of independence, raise a glass to the Framers of the Declaration and remind yourself that without a few good benders 234 years ago we'd all be speaking English right now... Uh, well, you know what we mean...