This week, we toast to the ups and downs life brings, and to...cicadas. You had to know it was coming, but with the emergence of Brood X comes the emergence of cicada-themed beers in the DMV. 

But before our cicada friends start singing from the trees about their 17-year journey, we venture back even further to the early dawn of brewing in America. Mike sits down with Frank Clark, Master of historic foodways at the Colonial WIlliamsburg Foundation. Frank has studied beer history for years. Frank and Mike discuss how the 18th century beer realm preserved and flavored beer without hops, the archaeological sites that reveal America’s first brewing companies, and the highly anticipated Ales Through The Ages Conference.  

For cicada-themed beers, check out Silver Branch’s Brew’d X IPA and Hellbender’s Deafening Chorus American Stout.