Did you know that our nation’s first president was a homebrewer? George Washington brewed this traditional style back at Mount Vernon, and his recipe from 1757 is actually preserved in the archives of his estate today.

Several Washington breweries will celebrate the style at The Great Washington Porter Festival to be held at Columbia Valley Brewing Company in Wenatchee over President’s Day Weekend, February 17 to 19. Participating breweries will include Columbia Valley Brewing, Icicle Brewing, Elysian Brewing, Old Schoolhouse Brewing, Methow Valley Brewing / Twisp River Pub, Ancient Lakes Brewing, and Flyers Brewery. A variation of Washington’s original recipe made by a local brewery will be featured at the festival on Friday and Saturday.

A full press release with more info follows.

GREAT WASHINGTON PORTER FESTIVAL IN WENATCHEE PRESIDENTS’ DAY WEEKEND The Great Washington Porter Festival will take place at Columbia Valley Brewing Company in Wenatchee on Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 17-19, 2012.

In honor of George Washington, our state’s namesake and the nation’s first brewer/president, the festival will showcase porter-style ales from different Washington breweries. 

Porter, a dark ale with a rich malty favor but without the strong roasted bitterness of a stout, was Washington’s favorite beer. He brewed it at Mount Vernon, and his 1757 small beer/porter recipe is preserved in the archives of his estate today. A variation of Washington’s recipe made by a local brewer will be poured at the festival on both Friday and Saturday.

George Washington was patriotic about American porter, a style first developed in England and probably named because of its popularity with the working class. “We have already been too long subject to British Prejudices,” Washington wrote. “I use no porter or cheese in my family, but that which is made in America: both these articles may now be purchased of an excellent quality.”

Participating breweries include Columbia Valley Brewing, Icicle Brewing (Leavenworth), Elysian Brewing (Seattle), Old Schoolhouse Brewing (Winthrop), Methow Valley Brewing/Twisp River Pub (Twisp), Ancient Lakes Brewing (Quincy) and Flyers Brewery (Oak Harbor).

The festival is for those age 21 and older, with no admission charge. Beers will be sold as samples, by the glass or pitcher. Live music is planned, and food will also be available.

Hours for the festival are: Friday and Saturday, February 17 and 18, noon to midnight, and Sunday, February 19, from 2 until 10 p.m.

Columbia River Brewing Company is located at 538 Riverside Drive in Wenatchee. For more information, contact organizer Alan Moen at 509-784-5101, the brewery at 888- 9993, or visit www.columbiariverbrewing.com or the brewery’s Facebook page.