Tally's Take · Washington DC
Beer Was Brewed Inside the White House
Honey from the White House beehive, a homebrew campaign, and recipes released to the public in 2012. For a moment the executive residence was a brewery.
American presidents and beer have crossed paths many times. George Washington left behind a small-beer recipe. Thomas Jefferson was deeply interested in brewing at Monticello.
But during the Obama administration, something unusual happened. Beer was brewed inside the White House.
Recipes included White House Honey Ale and White House Honey Porter, with honey connected to the White House beehive. After homebrewers pushed for the recipes to be made public, the White House released them in 2012.
For a brief moment, one of the most famous political residences in the world also became a tiny brewing site. Not a commercial brewery. Not a presidential beer company. Just beer being made inside the White House.
That is exactly the kind of story that makes beer history so much fun. Beer has a habit of turning up where you least expect it.
That's Tally's Take.