best way to make them is still in a dark, heavy ceramic pot in the oven for a couple hours!
I have my grandmothers bean pot that is older than I am...
it's one of those old 4-qt. brown ceramic pots with the big handle coming out the side...
and it probably weighs 10 pounds!
I think the only thing it has ever been used for is baked beans... and baked mac & cheese...