From the ideas that inspired it, to the battlefields that decided it, there is simply no America without Virginia. As we mark 250 years of Independence, now is the perfect time to reconnect with your country in the place that made it possible. Please join us at VA250.org.
VA250
Nelson County is proud to be a Commemorative Partner of VA250—the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission.
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Blue Mountain Brewery team up for America’s 250th
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and the Blue Mountain Brewery have launched a new brew to mark a big anniversary.
The two have teamed up to create a brand new ale, Rough Draft, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
“It is an American peach wheat ale, so that means it has mostly barley, but it does have a hefty amount of wheat that goes in there,” said James Critz, the senior brewer at Blue Mountain Barrel House. “We got local peaches from Monticello’s Tufton Farm. During the brew process, we pit the peaches, sterilize them, hang them in the tank during fermentation, and in the end, add a little bit more puree to balance the flavors.”
And a little bit of history.
“His orchard was very important to him. Jefferson grew peaches, apples, cherries, and more,” said Stephanie Fox, the director of retail at Monticello. “Our peach trees are abundant here on the mountaintop, and we wanted to incorporate those in a way for people to taste them and see how wonderful they are.”
But in the end, the two were able to create a refreshing drink that is the perfect concoction for people to enjoy this summer.
“It is lovely, it’s a great summer ale, I love how light it is, and you get a little bit of the wheat flavor, but not a lot,” said Critz.
“It is incredible. We debuted it on July 4 up here on the mountaintop at our naturalization ceremony and it was very well received,” Fox said.
The Rough Draft is available now at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello or at any participating Blue Mountain Brewery stores.
Voices of Revolution: Nelson County’s Hidden Heroes of 1776
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War. In recognition of this historic milestone, the Nelson County Historical Society is launching a podcast series to honor the service and struggles of men and women from our region during this pivotal era. While Nelson County would not be separated from Amherst County until 1807, we’ve uncovered compelling stories of residents and soldiers from the area that would become Nelson County.
