NEW YORK — A beer recipe handwritten by George Washington over 250 years ago is getting a modern revival as the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Washington’s handwritten recipe, titled “To Make Small Beer,” appears in a military journal now housed in the New York Public Library’s collections. Historians say “small beer” was a low-alcohol beverage commonly consumed during the colonial era.
According to George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the recipe was likely written around 1757 while Washington was stationed at Fort Loudon and may have served as a regular drink for troops.
The original recipe calls for bran hops, molasses, water and yeast, producing a beverage with relatively low alcohol content. Historians note that small beer was widely consumed in the 18th century and even perhaps an occasional substitute for water among troops.
The New York Public Library has partnered with New York City-based TALEA Beer Company to recreate a beverage inspired by Washington’s recipe. The project is part of the library’s “250 Years: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” programming commemorating the nation’s semiquincentennial.
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Rather than simply reproducing the historic beverage, TALEA worked with the library to create a contemporary interpretation called Liberty Lager. According to the brewery, the beer was designed to honor Washington’s original recipe while appealing to modern tastes.
ABC New York reported that TALEA also produced a limited batch that more closely followed Washington’s original formula, while Liberty Lager serves as the version intended for broader public consumption.
The library has also made Washington’s original handwritten recipe available online, along with a transcription to help modern readers decipher the 18th-century handwriting.
Liberty Lager is expected to be available this summer at TALEA locations and select retailers and restaurants throughout New York City.
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