George Washington’s Beer Recipe: A Historical Brew Returns to Brooklyn

A Brooklyn-based brewery is reviving a piece of American history by recreating George Washington’s personal beer recipe, sourced directly from the first president’s handwritten journals held at the New York Public Library. The recipe, originally penned in a 1757 notebook, serves as a window into 18th-century brewing practices, trading modern hops for ingredients like molasses and bran. This project bridges the gap between colonial-era domestic life and the contemporary craft beer movement.

What ingredients are in Washington’s original recipe?

The recipe, titled “To Make Small Beer,” relies on ingredients common in colonial Virginia rather than the standardized grains used by modern commercial breweries. According to the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, the process involves boiling a mixture of bran and hops, then adding molasses to provide the fermentable sugars necessary for alcohol production. Unlike modern craft beers that prioritize specific hop profiles for bitterness and aroma, Washington’s “small beer” was designed as a low-alcohol, daily beverage intended for hydration and safe consumption, often served to laborers and guests at Mount Vernon.

How does colonial brewing compare to modern craft beer?

The primary difference between the 18th-century process and modern brewing lies in the consistency and intent of the final product. Modern craft brewers utilize sophisticated temperature control and yeast strains to ensure a uniform flavor profile across batches. In contrast, colonial brewing was an imprecise, domestic affair. Washington’s recipe emphasizes the use of bran—the outer layer of cereal grain—which adds a distinct earthy character rarely found in today’s market. While modern brewers at establishments like Brooklyn’s Other Half Brewing or similar local operations often experiment with historical recreations, they must adapt colonial methods to meet current food safety standards and consumer expectations for carbonation and shelf stability.

Why does historical brewing matter today?

Recreating these recipes offers more than a novelty drink; it provides a tangible connection to the past. Historians note that brewing was a standard household chore for the elite and the enslaved alike in the 1700s. By analyzing these manuscripts, researchers can track the availability of trade goods like molasses, which were imported from the Caribbean, and understand the economic pressures of the pre-Revolutionary era. The preservation of these documents allows brewers to turn archival research into an experiential history, demonstrating how daily life changed as the United States transitioned from a collection of colonies to a sovereign nation.

Key Historical Facts

• Source Material: The recipe comes from George Washington’s 1757 “small beer” notebook.
• Primary Ingredients: Bran, hops, and molasses were the foundational components.
• Purpose: Small beer was a low-alcohol alternative to water, which was often contaminated in colonial urban centers.
• Archival Home: The original manuscript is part of the collection at the New York Public Library.

As interest in historical gastronomy grows, these liquid artifacts continue to gain popularity. While the beer produced today serves as a modern interpretation, it remains anchored to the specific instructions left behind by the nation’s first president, ensuring that the legacy of Mount Vernon’s brewhouse persists in the 21st century.