The Science and Art of Colonial Brewing November 6, 2010

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy,” Benjamin Franklin is reported to have once said.

The Founding Father – a statesman, scientist, philosopher, printer and writer – was also an avid brewer. It’s that hobby that will be the focus of a FREE event on Saturday, Nov. 6 at The Kite & Key Restaurant, 1836 Callowhill Street.

The event, “The Science and Art of Colonial Brewing,” will be held 2pm-5pm and is a partnership between The Franklin Institute, the Kite & Key and Yards Brewing Company to promote the recently announced Philadelphia Science Festival. It is the first in a series of events leading up to the Festival, a city-wide collaboration of science and technology in April 2011.

“Our goal with the Philadelphia Science Festival is to show the science behind everyday life – to take a beer, for example, and talk about the brewing methods, ingredients and history behind it,” said Gerri Trooskin, the festival director. “Ben Franklin was a master brewer, a side of him not often talked about. So we thought he’d be the perfect focus for our first event.”

One of Yards brewers will be on-hand for a demo and to talk about Spruce Ale, which is based on a recipe Franklin himself used more than 200 years ago. There will be a special exhibit of rarely-seen artifacts from The Franklin Institute archives, such as Franklin’s personal tankard. And The Franklin Institute’s Kristin Qualls will discuss the man and myth, including Franklin’s drinking habits.

The Philadelphia Science Festival will feature more than 200 free events April 15-28, 2011 in museums, libraries and schools – even on street corners. It is being funded in part by the National Science Foundation and The Dow Chemical Company and is supported by universities, museums and cultural and community centers across the city. To learn more, visit www.PhilaScienceFestival.org.

The Kite & Key will be offering specials on Yards’ Ales of the Revolution as part of the event. For more information on “The Science and Art of Colonial Brewing,” call 215.568.1818.

ABOUT THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE: Founded in honor of America’s first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is one of America’s oldest and premier centers of science education and development in the country. Today, the Institute continues its dedication to public education and creating a passion for science by offering new and exciting access to science and technology in ways that would dazzle and delight its namesake. For more information please visit www.fi.edu.

Official Website: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129481973773075