In 1757, a colonel in the Virginia militia recorded the way that thirsty soldiers had made a DIY beverage with some water, hops, and molasses. The colonel: George Washington. Yes, the father of our country recorded instructions for making a very stiff beer. God bless America! Today, a mile and a half from Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, Yards Brewing Company has resurrected old George’s directions. It’s one of the brews in its Ales of the Revolution series, an homage to a time when our forefathers were creating a more perfect union—while getting drunk off their ass. But re-creating centuries-old formulas takes some detective work. And a liver of steel. “The beers back then tended to be very strong,” Yards founder Tom Kehoe says. Here’s how the recipes were revived.

First it was Cormac McCarthy, then Jack Kerouac. Now, Harlan Ellison, a self-identified blue-collar fantasist who has written over 1,000 short stories, screenplays, essays, and criticisms, has listed his Remington noiseless portable for $40,000. Ellison penned “Soldier,” which James Cameron drew from for “The Terminator,” and “The Outer Limits,” to name just a few. Speakeasy spent some time on the phone with Ellison, who dominated the conversation with anecdotes and allusions of times past.