Ball’s Back Bock celebrates the return of Lewes’ cannonball

Have you heard the one about a cartoonist, a historian and a brewer walking into a tavern?

The curious case of the cannonball caper concluded Feb. 23 with the return of the 19th century artifact to the sidewalk along Kings Highway in the area of the Zwaanendael Museum and the Lewes Chamber of Commerce. The Lewes Historical Society was thrilled to have its cannonball back, but the Lewes Police Department closed its first cannonball case without arresting any suspects. 

Cape Gazette editorial cartoonist James Paterson took it upon himself to narrow down the list of possible suspects during the seemingly community-wide investigation. A bowling alley proprietor, a bocce enthusiast, the British Royal Navy, socialite Benny and a daredevil juggler were all offered up as possible perpetrators.

“I was hoping there would be a happy ending for the cannonball, but either way I wanted to lighten things up because as jarring and sort of sad as that loss was, it was also a little funny,” Paterson said.

The responsible party remains a mystery; however, Paterson’s predictions will soon be seen on dozens of T-shirts and cans of beer set to be released at the historical society’s campus April 7 during the nonprofit’s First Friday event.

Who does Paterson think took and returned the cannonball?

“Probably Benny, but I would love to think the ghost of some crazy old British sailor came back to claim it,” Paterson said.

Dogfish Head co-founders Sam and Mariah Calagione believed the return gave them an opportunity to work with their brewing team and the historical society. Sam wanted to celebrate the return of the cannonball with a bock-style beer using locally sourced, regeneratively grown grain.

“It was born out of how excited we were ... usually crime stories don’t have happy endings, [but] this one kind of does,” Sam said.

A bock is a dark, strong lager with a light hoppiness that features intense malt flavors. Dogfish Head Brewmaster Mark Safarik developed a recipe and capitalized on the brew’s need for maltiness by adding thousands of malted milk balls, an homage to the cannonball.

Mariah oversees Dogfish Head’s Beer and Benevelonce program and felt this was the perfect opportunity to expand the existing partnership with the historical society. Sam noted that before Prohibition, most towns had their own local brewer. Around the time of the bombardment in 1813, Lewes beer drinkers would have been enjoying darker beverages. However, they would likely have been ales.

“This beer is a little bit of a departure in that a bock is a lager, but we’re intentionally leaving this beer unfiltered, unpasteurized, un-centrifuged, so it is not been spun for clarity. It’s going to be rustic and full of flavor,” Sam said.

Lewes Historical Society Executive Director Andrew Lyter said there has been a lot of excitement centered around this First Friday. Lyter said that during the bombardment, which took place April 6-7, militia members were stationed at the Cannonball House. While it is something the historical society is researching, it is believed that before, during and after the British attacks, several members of the militia were at the tavern drinking.

“Sussex Tavern would have been a gathering place, a melting pot, for the wealthy, pilots, politicians, militia and shore-leave off-duty sailors. Everybody would come to the tavern,” Lyter said.

It’s likely that, although the tavern was moved, there was plenty of talk about cannonballs inside its walls during the bombardment. Flash forward 210 years and there is a distinct possibility that conversations in the tavern will center around at least one of those cannonballs that blasted its way into Lewes.

Ironically, the guest of honor is not the cannonball that struck the Cannonball House. While it is an authentic British naval cannonball from the 19th century, the cannonball of 21st century headlines was and is a stand-in for the cannonball from 19th century headlines. 

In exchange for the use of his artwork, Paterson will receive a shirt and some brews. 

About five cases will be brewed and there will be about 120 cans available for purchase at the First Friday event. There will be more T-shirts than beer cans, and supplies will still be limited. The shirts will cost $20 and 100% of sales will go to the Lewes Historical Society. Lyter said about 400 people attend First Friday events. 

In addition to the beer release and T-shirt sales, April’s First Friday will feature live era-themed music from the Blarney Pilgrims as well as the traditional period drinks alongside the Ball's Back Bock. Celebrations will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, April 7, at the Sussex Tavern at the Rabbits Ferry House, located on the historical society’s campus at 110 Shipcarpenter St. 

More information about the historical society is available at historiclewes.org, while anyone interested in learning more about Dogfish’s Beer & Benevolence program can go to dogfish.com/beer-and-benevolence. Sam said First Friday will be the only place to purchase the Ball's Back Bock in cans, but it will be on tap at Dogfish Head’s tasting room in Milton.