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…
Baerlic’s latest beer release is made with Oregon sea salt
A subtly briny beer for beach days
A glass of beer on a beach

Portland's Baerlic Brewing is ringing in the summer season with a refreshing new beer. The west coast brewery just released the latest batch of Nice & Easy, a gose style beer made with salt harvested from the Pacific Ocean. The slightly briny beer has roots in Germany and is an excellent option for those who like a little salty marine air in their beer.

The brand rightfully calls it the Gatorade of beer, thanks to that slight saline aspect. The nose reminds of sweet oats and there's brightness about the beer thanks to a tart finish. If you need some suds for the beach or just the makeshift pool in your backyard, this is your beer.

Read more
Sam Adams toasts the coming summer with new blueberry lager
A berry beer for for the warmer days
Sam Adams Beers of Summer Variety Pack.

Summer approaches, which can only mean one thing: Brand new beers from a host of breweries from coast to coast. Labels are embracing the sun and issuing refreshing light beers that seem to capture the very essence of the season. Sam Adams is the latest in line, with a new beer mixed up with a popular berry.

The limited-edition lager is made with blueberry juice from concentrate and comes in at 5.5% ABV. It pours a dark golden hue and is made with Tettnang hops and a pair of malts. Fans can access the beer by way of Sam Adams' Beers of Summer Variety Pack.

Read more
From NA beer to smoky rauchbier, here’s what’s trending in craft beer now
Examining the winners of the big beer bash
Cheers two beers

The craft beer movement is fluid, in more ways than one. Beer styles shift alongside preferences while new hops present brewers with new opportunities to ace their signature IPAs. If there's a gauge on the ever-changing industry, big gatherings like the World Beer Cup might just be it.

Now, the World Beer Cup does take some distilling. After all, this year's gathering sprayed 350 awards over more than 100 categories across the sector. So, what were the trends? Where was the intrigue?

Read more