The Princeton Public Library presents “A Revolutionary Take on Cocktails & History” with author Brooke Barbier
Jul 31st 2026
Events @ Princeton Public Library
Fri 7/31 @ 5:00PM
Yankee Doodle Tap Room & Ballroom, 10 Palmer Square East
A happy hour featuring craft cocktails and ciders from Ironbound Farm sets the stage for Brooke Barbier's presentation of Cocked and Boozy: An Intoxicated History of the American Revolution.
This first-come, first-served event is intended for adults ages 21 and older. Registration is encouraged, but does not guarantee a seat. Register here.
Step back in time to the candlelit taverns of 1776 and the years before as public historian Brooke Barbier examines the surprising role that alcohol played in shaping the nation. In her latest book, Cocked and Boozy: An Intoxicated History of the American Revolution, Barbier uncovers how a good pour influenced politics, relationships and the colonial economy. Pairing great stories with great libations, each chapter concludes with an 18th-century cocktail recipe. Join us at the Nassau Inn for an evening of unexpected history, storytelling and spirited sips.
5:00PM: Start the evening in the Yankee Doodle Tap Room with Happy Hour, featuring craft cocktails and ciders from Ironbound Farm inspired by the book.
6:00PM: Registered guests continue to the Prince William Ballroom for a lively, visually engaging discussion with the author. Enjoy book-inspired cocktails featuring Ironbound Cider, purchase copies of the book from Labyrinth Books, and learn about the Historical Society of Princeton’s newest exhibit, "On the Road to Revolution at Dohm Alley."
Brooke Barbier received her PhD in American history from Boston College. In 2013, she founded Ye Olde Tavern Tours, a popular outing that takes guests into historic sites and taverns to learn about Boston’s revolutionary and drunken history. She is the author of Boston in the American Revolution: A Town Versus an Empire and the award-winning King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father.
Presented in partnership with the Princeton Public Library, Yankee Doodle Tap Room & Nassau Inn, Ironbound Farm and the Historical Society of Princeton.
Public Humanities programs are presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.