Brews and Presidents :
It’s Presidents’ Day, so I thought you might enjoy a little presidential beer and brewing history.
Brews and Presidents – A few historical anecdotes:
GEORGE WASHINGTON
George Washington was a not only a beer drinker but also a homebrewer and drinking vessel collector. At Mount Vernon he ensured an ample supply of ready to drink beer. You can find his 1757 handwritten recipe for small beer (a light ale) in the New York Public Library.You can also find the recipe here.
JOHN ADAMS
John Adams was known to begin each day with a draft of hard cider. He was convinced that cider provided health benefits and lived to the ripe old age of 90.
THOMAS AND MARTHA JEFFERSON
Jefferson’s earliest plans for Monticello, his Virginia estate, included spaces for brewing and beer storage. His wife Martha brewed 15-gallon batches of small beer every two weeks. This beer was served regularly with dinner.
In 1812, Thomas Jefferson brewed beer while tensions grew between the U.S. and Great Britain. He used malt from his neighbor William Meriwether and locally sourced hops. And Jefferson pursued understanding the science of brewing beer.
JAMES MADISON
Brews and Presidents
Although known as a whiskey drinker, Madison also had a love for beer. While President, he wanted to established a national brewery and proposed appointing a Secretary of Beer to the Presidential Cabinet – partly to protect the domestic beer market from foreign imports. However, Congress did not agree with his plans.
Known as the Patron of Homebrewing among the Founding Fathers, Madison had his own personal brewhouse by 1814.
JAMES GARFIELD
Garfield was a beer enthusiast. His friend Thomas Donaldson wrote that Garfield “liked beer and drank but little else.” Unfortunately, Garfield’s beer-drinking presidency was cut short by his assassination.
GROVER CLEVELAND
Well before his 2 terms in the White House, Grover Cleveland frequented the saloons of Buffalo, NY to drink beer and lots of it! He also enjoyed rich food and cigars. Unfortunately, his over indulgence (he reportedly downed up to 1 gallon of beer per night) led to poor health. So drink responsibly!
JIMMY CARTER
In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed H.R. 1337, a bill containing an amendment sponsored by Senator Alan Cranston. This amendment created an exemption from taxation for beer brewed at home for personal or family use. Essentially, it lifted regulations imposed by Prohibition laws over 50 years prior. Carter’s signature laid the foundation for the craft brewing industry as we know it today.
Despite being reported as a non-drinker during the 1976 election, Carter’s support for homebrewing contributed significantly to the resurgence of beer-making at home. His actions helped pave the way for the vibrant craft beer scene we enjoy today.
BILL CLINTON
Brews and Presidents
Former President Bill Clinton had a beer created in his honor: “Chill Clinton”. Brewed by Iowa’s Exile Brewing Co., this amber ale is infused with hemp seeds. Clinton is known to enjoy a drink now and then, and his preferred alcoholic beverage is rumored to be the Snakebite—a mix of one-part hard cider and one-part lager beer. Interestingly, when he attempted to order a Snakebite in the UK, he discovered that it was illegal there.
During a visit to the Czech Republic, Clinton joined President Václav Havel at a famous pub called The Golden Tiger for a mug of the world-renowned Czech Pilsner beer – Pilsner Urquell. Clinton downed two Pilsners, declaring, “Two Pilsners. That’s my limit”.
BARRACK OBAMA
Barack Obama made history by becoming the first president to host a White House brewing session. In 2011, he and his staff crafted ales featuring honey from the White House garden. The man behind this initiative was Sam Kass, Obama’s former senior adviser for nutrition policy.
The beer brewed at the White House was a honey ale, believed to be the first-ever made there. The recipe remained a secret until an online petition garnered 13,000 signatures, demanding its release. Obama even took this special brew with him on the campaign trail, offering it to voters.
Beer played a prominent role during Obama’s administration. Notably, there was the famous beer summit, where he invited Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and police sergeant James Crowley to discuss racial tensions over a beer. Obama was often photographed enjoying beer during his travels.
Brews and Presidents