Get ready to raise your glass and travel back in time to experience a fun, immersive colonial experience right here in Haddonfield.
The Indian King Tavern Museum is hosting its fourth annual beer-tasting fundraiser on Saturday, May 16. The event, called “Tankard at the Tavern,” is a spring tradition in Haddonfield, where it is one of the only days patrons can legally purchase a beer in the dry town’s only tavern.
“Enjoy this historic tavern as it was built to be enjoyed, as a social setting for neighbors and friends to gather and enjoy the times of their lives. The thought of the generations of people that have raised a glass and their voices discussing the topics of their day is thought provoking. It is a perfect atmosphere to enjoy the past and the present of Haddonfield at the same moment,” Chris Thomas of the Friends of the Indian King Tavern Museum said.
“It’s just a relaxing way to experience what life would be like back in colonial times in Haddonfield. Also, it is one of the few times they can be served alcohol in Haddonfield, as it is a dry town,” said Phillip Zoebisch, also a member of the Friends of the Indian King Tavern Museum.
Tankard at the Tavern began four years ago when the Friends of the Indian King Tavern were looking for a way to raise awareness of the museum as well as to raise money for renovations to the landmark and its educational programs. The idea to use the museum for its original purpose, as a tavern, seemed like the perfect idea to spread education and merriment. The Friends were given permission to host this beer-tasting fundraiser by obtaining a special use permit from the state.
“It was started to bring back the original purpose of the building, as a meeting place of the community. We thought if we were to turn the museum back into a tavern for a day it would bring a crowd of people that might not necessarily visit the museum but would be excited to visit a tavern. Since Haddonfield is a dry town, this idea seemed especially unique and appealing,” Thomas said.
Volunteers have been working hard behind the scenes organizing quality, locally-brewed ales with delicious foods to complement them. There are a variety of ales available for tasting, all being colonial style beers, to keep up the authenticity. Ales are provided by Cape May Brewery and Stoudt’s, while the British Chip Shop will serve ploughman’s lunch, chicken and mushroom pie and cottage pie, and the Pour House will provide “$1 a shuck” oysters.
Also at the event will be colonial reenactors to add atmosphere and color. They will provide entertainment, jokes, singing, dancing and more.
“It is billed as a colonial beer tasting fundraiser, but it is so much more than that. It is a dining experience, where we try to get authentic food to have at that time, and an entertainment experience, where volunteers are dressed in colonial attire and give colonial type humor and songs. It’s a great time,” Zoebisch said.
Zoebisch hopes those who come to the event not only enjoy themselves, but also gain a greater appreciation for the Indian King Tavern and Haddonfield’s roll in New Jersey history, as it was there that New Jersey became a state. He also would like them to learn about the history and what it was like to live back then.
“A lot of people think it was hard to live back then, but they had a lot of fun. It wasn’t all work and toil. It was eating, socializing and telling jokes, but in a colonial way,” Zoebisch said.
Tickets are available online via PayPal at www.indiankingfriends.org/2015/03/save-the-date-indian-king-tavern-spring-beer-festival-may-16/ or at the law office of Joe Murphy, 30 Tanner St., Haddonfield, (856) 429–9154, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Session 1, from noon to 2 p.m., is $40; Session 2, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., is $50; and Session 3, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., is $60. Only 100 tickets are available for each seating. Session 3 is already sold out. All money raised will go to the Indian King Tavern Museum.
“Please come to enjoy the event with friends and neighbors, and help to support keeping this great building healthy and strong for the next generation,” Thomas said.
The Indian King Tavern Museum is located at 233 Kings Highway East. For more information, call the museum at (856) 429–6792 or visit www.indiankingfriends. org.
