Old Fort Erie is bringing back the soldier’s beer ration for one night

Old Fort Erie is reviving a taste of army life from the War of 1812 with a new evening event that pairs craft beer with food inspired by the era.

Niagara Parks and the Niagara College (NC) Teaching Brewery are hosting A Shot of History at the fort on Saturday, August 22 from 7 to 10 p.m.

British soldiers stationed in Upper Canada during the war received a daily beer ration as part of their provisions. The event takes its cue from that tradition.

Guests will move through different areas of the stone fort and try five dishes prepared by the Niagara Parks culinary team. Each dish comes with a four-ounce sample of NC Craft beer.

The menu includes a Three Sisters stew made with corn, beans and squash, served with an NC Craft IPA, and a bison slider topped with blueberry chutney and caramelized onions, paired with a light lager.

Historical interpreters will share stories about beer, rations and daily life during the war, and black-powder demonstrations and live music are planned throughout the evening.

Niagara College students will serve guests at the event. The college runs Canada’s first teaching winery, brewery and distillery, and students help produce the beers being poured.

Amanda Baldinelli, hospitality manager with the Niagara College Learning Enterprise Corporation, said in a release the event gives students hands-on experience while they share the beverages they help create.

Tickets are $90 and the event is open to guests 19 and older. Additional NC Craft beers will be for sale, and free parking is available at the Old Fort Erie welcome centre.

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