Beer was the staple drink on board the Mayflower. Unlike water, which quickly spoiled when stored in the hold of ships, beer contained no bacteria, and the then-recent introduction of hops made it keep longer. It was also a terrific source of carbohydrates. Men, women and children drank beer daily, and sailors aboard the Mayflower received a daily ration of a gallon.

Almost 400 years later, there is still some great beer being made in Plymouth by our friends at Mayflower Brewing. They’ll be doing our “Chill and Grill” on Friday, July 11 and will feature “Hop Chef” winner Johnny Sheehan of New World Tavern on the grill. They make some terrific beers and for that reason, we’re featuring them as our “Beer of the Week”.

Pale Ale – Traditional English pale ales have mild malt character and aroma offset by pronounced hop bitterness. Mayflower Pale Ale is a dry version of this classic beer style. Its bready and toasted malt flavor is balanced by earthy and herbal aromas from two varieties of traditional English and American-grown hops.