Days of the Beer, July 12

The beer for today is Left Hand Milk Stout.

On July 11, 1804, one of the most famous duels in American history occurred. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton (the $10 bill guy) and Vice President Aaron Burr met on a spot known as the Heights of Weehawken, in New Jersey (a popular dueling ground, the site was used for 18 other duels between 1700 and 1845).

The causes of the duel went back several years for the men.

1. Burr had unseated Hamilton's father-in-law in the Senate. Hamilton didn't like Burr's politics (Burr was a Democratic-Republican and Hamilton was a Federalist).

2. Burr was then nominated to be Vice-President with Jefferson as President. At the time, the person who received the most votes in the Electoral College would be president and the person to receive the second most would be vice president. Each person in the college had 2 votes, at the time the D-R's planned to have 73 people vote for Jefferson, and 72 vote for Burr. It didn't work out right, so they tied with 73 votes. This led to a vote in the House of Representative to determine who would be President. Everyone knew that Jefferson was the guy running for President and Burr was to be the vice-president, but the House was controlled by Federalists, and they didn't like Jefferson. So they were going to vote for Burr. Except that Hamilton was a powerful Federalist (like Karl Rove) and he convinced the House, that Jefferson would be better for them, than Burr.

3. Jefferson planned to drop Burr from being Vice President for the next election, so Burr ran for governor of New York. Hamilton campaigned against Burr.

Burr had enough, so he challenged Hamilton to a duel. Hamilton accepted and chose pistols as the weapon.

So, they met, July 12, 204 years ago. Hamilton won the right to shoot first. Supposedly, he shot above Burr, in the hopes that they would just shoot above each other to get "Satisfaction", and the matter would be settled. Burr apparently didn't think the shot was a "delope" or thrown away shot. So he shot him in the lower abdomen above the right hip.

Burr then got on a boat and went back to Manhattan and had breakfast of eggs and toast.

The incident was made famous in the original "Got Milk?" commercial.

So, in honor of the first "Got Milk?" commercial; honoring the fatal duel between Burr and Hamilton, have a Milk Stout.

I tried to find some information on a slap and throwing down the gauntlet to challenge for a duel being with the left hand, but couldn't find that.

So, anyway, have a Left Hand Milk Stout.

According to the brewer:

This English style of beer, also known as Sweet Stout or Cream Stout, first appeared in London in the late 1800’s. The early brewers touted the health benefits of the milk sugar in this beer which today relates mainly to the increased amount of calories(no real health benefits…sorry). The milk sugar adds a well rounded sweetness to this dark beer and makes it an outstanding, year ‘round stout.

AAAwon Buwwwh.

Got milk stout?