Skip to main content

Budweiser’s New Beer Recipe Was Penned by George Washington

budeweiser freedom reserve red lager
Budeweiser/Facebook

There’s nothing more American than … Budwesier? When one of the most well-known lagers in the world announced that it would be rebranded as “America” in summer 2016, we were all a little skeptical. (Budwesier has its roots in Milwaukee, but the brewery is owned by the Belgian-Brazilian mega company, Anheuser-Busch InBev). However, Bud is still doing everything it can to ingratiate itself to the U.S. audience, including tapping a founding father for a new beer idea.

Recommended Videos

Announced this May, Freedom Reserve Red Lager is Budweiser’s latest addition to the Reserve Collection, a limited-edition series that has, thus far, celebrated all things ‘Murica. The kicker? Freedom Reserve is “inspired by George Washington’s hand-penned recipe from his personal military journal dating back to 1757,” according to a press release.

Say what? It looks like Barack Obama wasn’t the only U.S. president with a penchant for homebrewing.

famous last words
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Budweiser neglected to share what Washington’s recipe called for, but we’re assuming it said something along the lines of “the dankest of all the hops” grown in the “state that will eventually be named after me,” which is coincidentally the largest producer of hops in the country.

Just kidding. Budwesier’s new red lager uses “toasted barley grains for a slightly sweet aroma with a touch of hops, a rich caramel malt taste and a smooth finish with a hint of molasses. The beer will be available in two packages: a classic stubby bottle and a one-pint can.

Budweiser | Service Never Stops

A portion of the summer sales from this limited-edition brew will raise money for Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships to the families of military members that are killed or injured during service. Bud has already raised $14 million for the organization to-date.

“To call Budweiser a partner would be an understatement – they are considered family to us and the 3,000 families their donations help to support,” said Major Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor, in a press release. “Freedom Reserve is a great testament to their unwavering dedication and compassion for our armed forces and we salute them.”

Freedom Reserve will be available May through September 2018. After that, Budwesier will still be trying to brew beer in space.

Nicole Raney
Nicole Raney is the former Managing Editor of The Manual. You can also hear her on older episodes of The Manual Podcast, a…
Flying with beer? Here’s how to pack alcohol in your luggage
Learn how to do this right with this packing guide
Packing a suitcase

If you're anything like me and can’t resist picking up a few bottles of that amazing local wine or craft beer while you’re traveling, you’ve probably faced that moment of panic when it’s time to pack. Maybe you went a little overboard at a vineyard in Napa or filled half your suitcase with IPAs from a cool little brewery you stumbled upon. No judgment -- been there, done that. Honestly, local beer and wine make some of the best souvenirs (and gifts, if you don’t end up keeping them for yourself). Here's the big question, though. Can you bring alcohol on a plane?

The short answer is yes. Like with anything else in life, there are rules, and it's important to know them before you head to the airport, including how much and what you can bring. If you're flying with beer or wine, it's also essential to know how to pack the alcohol for the flight. There’s nothing worse than a bottle of red wine breaking in your suitcase and staining everything, or a broken beer bottle making your luggage smell like yeast right before a long-haul flight. With a few smart packing decisions, your beer or wine will be safely waiting for you at the baggage carousel, wherever your final destination may be.

Read more
Summer in a bottle might be Elysian Brewing’s new blonde ale
Elysian Brewing Lemon Daydream.

The west coast brewery scene has been busy as of late, dropping seasonal beers in time for warm weather. The latest? A lemon-kissed blonde ale from Elysian Brewing in Seattle.

Say hello to Lemon Daydream, a 4.9% ABV offering that's something of a hybrid. A bit like a shandy, a bit like a lager, the fruit beer is citrusy and offers refreshing tangerine notes. It's made with Idaho 7 hops, beloved for their punchy characteristics.

Read more
Allagash Brewing debuts Hearts of Pine collaboration beer
Allagash Kickabout Lager.

Allagash Brewing has teamed up with a local soccer team to create a special beer. The release, named Kickabout Lager, is the result of a partnership with the Portland Hearts of Pine, Maine's pro soccer club. The label, a stalwart in the craft beer movement, is the official brewery partner of the team.

A 5% ABV lager, the beer is made with some wheat in the grain bill. It borrows its name from a term soccer players like to use to describe an informal game. Fans can get the beer at FItzpatrick Stadium where the Hearts of Pine play, and Allagash's Portland tasting room, where it's availably in can and on draft.

Read more