George Washington’s Historic Beer Recipe Revived by NYPL and TALEA Beer Co.

The New York Public Library (NYPL) offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience history through taste by recreating George Washington’s 1757 beer recipe. This recipe, found within the first president’s military journal, has been brought back to life by a collaboration between the library and New York City-based TALEA Beer Co. Additionally, they created a Liberty Lager to cater to modern preferences.

LeAnn Darland, TALEA’s co-founder and co-CEO, expressed excitement about the partnership, noting the honor of collaborating with the NYPL. ‘We were in awe to be considered for this project,’ she told Fox News Digital.

The original recipe was found in a journal belonging to Washington, dating back to his time as a colonel with the Virginia militia during the Seven Years’ War. It’s believed he served this beer to troops stationed at Fort Loudon, Virginia.

The journal, largely in Washington’s handwriting, details daily military activities, including outlines for letters, orders, a list of officers’ commissions, wagon horses names, and the beer recipe. This ‘small beer’ derived its name due to its low alcohol content and was a staple beverage, valued as a safer alternative to water thanks to the brewing process that eliminated bacteria.

Darland described the recipe as straightforward, likening it to something a novice homebrewer might try. However, they had to decipher old-timey terms like ‘a quart of yeast.’ Molasses, used for fermentable sugar, was practical for soldiers using rations while on the move.

TALEA engaged the library in tasting sessions to refine the brews. Darland appreciated the collaborative approach, testing different sugars available then to achieve an authentic taste. Modern molasses differs from the kind used by Washington, so aligning with the 1700s version was part of the challenge.

The Liberty Lager, developed by TALEA, attempts to modernize Washington’s recipe. The lager is described by Darland as malty and amber-colored, more refined than Washington’s ‘muddy’ brew. It includes hops to balance the malt’s sweetness, aiming for a drink that today’s consumers would enjoy.

Liberty Lager is available at TALEA taprooms, while the NYPL plans to offer small beer samples at upcoming America250 events. Darland indicated an enthusiastic public response has encouraged TALEA to increase production of Liberty Lager.

A Navy veteran, Darland hopes these brews evoke a sense of patriotism without divisive political edges. She highlights beer’s role in fostering community and simple enjoyment.

Beer is meant to bring people together, learn, and have fun, she remarked.

George Washington’s Small Beer Recipe (As Transcribed by NYPL)

Ingredients

• A large Sifter full of Bran Hops to your Taste
• 3 Gallons Molasses
• A quart of Yeast

Directions

• Take a large Sifter full of Bran Hops to your Taste. Boil these 3 hours then strain out 30 Gallons into a cooler.
• Put in 3 Gallons Molasses while the Beer is Scalding hot or draw the Melasses into the cooler & strain the Beer on it while boiling Hot.
• Let this stand until it is little more than Blood warm then put in a quart of Yeast.
• If the Weather is very Cold, cover with a Blanket & let it Work in the Cooler 24 hours then put into the Cask – leave the bung open until it is almost done Working – Bottle it that day Week it was Brewed.