A Brew for Ben Franklin

When he wasn’t inventing bifocals and the lighting rod, Ben Franklin, born January 17, 1706, was enjoying good beer. As one of country’s founding fathers, this brilliant man knew a great beverage when he met it and was even quoted as saying, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Amen.

In his honor during the month of his birth, here are some great products to help you indulge in some hoppy goodness in its many forms. Don’t forget to pour one out for Ben.—Denise Shoukas

Have a hankering to create your own microbrew without breaking the bank? Then give Mr. Beer ($39.95; mrbeer.com) a go. This at-home microbrewery system includes everything you need to make your own brew. Each kit produces approximately two gallons of beer in as little as two weeks and is completely reusable.

Delicious out of the bag or paired with a frosty pint of beer, Anette’s Chocolate Factory’s award-winning Firey Beer Brittle ($9.95/8 oz.; anettes.com) is made with dark microbrewed ale, Spanish peanuts, pure Indonesian vanilla, a dash of salt and chile de arbol. It tastes salty, sweet and spicy all at once.

Lucille's 1940 Style Bloody Mary Mix ($18/12 oz.; lucillesbloodymarymix.com) isn’t just for weekend brunch. Add some to your favorite beer for the best “Red Beer” or “Tomato” you’ve ever tasted. Heat levels include San Francisco Mild, New Orleans Nippy and Cajun Hot.

These bread mixes taste like homemade but take only minutes to make. Firenza’s Great Grains Beer Bread Mix ($5.50; firenzamixes.com) blends a bevy of whole grains and is oven-ready in just 3 minutes. All you need is a 12-ounce can of beer. Slice it up for delicious toast or serve with soup and salad, or use the dough for a pizza crust. Also check out Firenza’s Traditional Beer Bread Mix.

Beer and chocolate are a match made in heaven. Carter’s Chocolates helps beer lovers realize this fact with its beer-inspired truffle flavors ($18/9-piece sampler; carterschocolates.com). The chocolatier infuses beers from Seattle’s Pike Brewing Company—including Kiltlifter Ale, Tandem Ale and a stout—into dark and milk chocolates for a collection of truly unique truffles. The sampler box includes other such boozy pieces as Chocolate Port, Orange Muscat, Baileys and Grand Marnier.

Who says you can’t mix beer and candy? Beer Candy’s ($7.50/4-piece box; beercandy.com) chocolate-covered caramels are made with craft beer and balanced with rich chocolate. The line of four caramels includes an IPA infusion enrobed in white chocolate, a raspberry Lambic in dark chocolate, a Boston-style lager in milk chocolate and a stout in dark chocolate. Get the sampler box to try them all.

This is a two-for-one special. Pub-Corn ($3.49/8 oz.; pub-corn.com) is a non-alcoholic snack combining seasonings with popped corn to create the flavor of beer and popcorn together. Created by a college student in 2008, it’s now a sensation for undergrads and graduates (and beyond) nationwide.

 
You may be tempted to put Truffle Truffle’s Beer and Pretzel Marshmallows ($12/4-piece box; truffletruffle.com) in a cup of hot chocolate, but more than likely you’ll end up popping them in your mouth solo. A house-made beer infused marshmallow is dipped in milk chocolate and topped with beer-and-pretzel brittle bits (another concoction you can buy from the company) for an exquisite treat.

And lastly, if you find yourself in Minnesota or North Dakota this winter, grab a six-pack of Founding Fathers Brewing Co.’s American Lager (foundingfathersbrewingco.com) a combination of both two and six row barley, a blend of three classic American hops from the Pacific Northwest, and roasted caramel malt. There’s even more reason than the full-bodied taste to buy this beer—50 percent of all profits will be donated to families of the U.S. military. Expect to find it in states including Maryland, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, Georgia and Wisconsin in the near future. The patriotic label boasts images of none other than Ben Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson themselves. B.F. would’ve been proud.