Days of the Beer, June 14

You have two choices for beer today, both are stouts.

The first is Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. The second is Bear Republic Big Bear Stout.

In 1789 whiskey distilled from corn is first produced by American clergyman the Rev Elijah Craig. It is named Bourbon because Rev Craig lived in Bourbon County, Kentucky.

Whiskey is a close cousin to beer, and there are several beers that are aged in whiskey barrels after brewing. Some of these aged beers have a more pronounced whiskey/bourbon flavor, like GIBCS or the BrewDog Paradox line of beers. Others, like this years O'fallon Pappy van Winkle Barrel Aged Smoked Porter have just a hint of the flavor in the beer.

Elijah Craig was a Baptist minister. He aged some moonshine in charred oak barrels to produce the America's first whiskey. That may have been the last time a baptist admits to drinking whiskey.

Also on June 14, in 1846 the Bear Flag Revolt began, when settlers in Sonoma, California start a revolt against Mexico and proclaim the California Republic. The Republic lasted almost a whole month, and later became the state of California.

California, the state, added part of the bear to it's current flag. So in honor of the nearly whole month of the Republic of California, have a Big Bear Stout.