Attendees to a local brew fest got to taste an alcoholic cider created from a 342-year-old recipe.

One of the big draws at Saturday’s brew festival at Pennsbury Manor in Falls Township was the presence of Blackledge Winery, who worked with Pennsbury Manor to bring back a cider recipe from 342 years ago.

Mark Turdo of Blackledge Winery in Center Valley, Lehigh County said he has been cidering since 2012 and was recently contacted to see if he had interest in historic cidering.

Once he agreed, he began work to brew the historic cider first created 342 years ago by William Penn’s wife in 1674.

Mark Turdo of Blackledge has been cidering since 2012. He was recently contacted by Damian Siekonic, who asked if he would be interested in historic cidering with a winery. According to information from a press agent, the recipe was originally created by William Penn’s wife, Gulielma, in 1674.

“Everyone is being very positive,” Turdo said of the reaction.

Penn’s 74, the historic cider, made its debut at Pennsbury Manor’s Bites and Brews fundraiser that was held over the weekend.

According to Turdo, the cider is different from other historic ciders because of its usage of spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and mace.

Penn’s 74 caught people off guard, mostly, according to Turdo. “So, people take a sip and take a step back and say, ‘I really like that.'”

In terms of creating something to do with William Penn, it was purely coincidence. “It was a historic recipe that I found that was accessible,” Turdo said. The fact that it belonged to Gulielma Penn, was purely serendipitous.

In addition to the historic cider, guests at the brew fest enjoyed sips from 18 area breweries and a number of food trucks that made an appearance at the historic estate.

During Penn’s life, beer, cider and other alcoholic beverages were brewed at his Pennsbury estate on the Delaware River. It was not uncommon during the 1600s for people to drink alcoholic beverages with every meal.