Acknowledging a public thirst, the White House today posted the recipe and instructions for its home brew on the White House blog, noting a "lot of buzz" for White House Honey Ale and White House Honey Porter.
"With public excitement about White House beer fermenting such a buzz, we decided we better hop right to it," writes Sam Kass, assistant chef and senior policy advisor for healthy food initiatives at the White House.
He explains that "inspired by home brewers from across the country," Obama last year bought a home brewing kit for the White House kitchen and that after a few first drafts, the kitchen "landed on some great recipes that came from a local brew shop." It also got tips from "a couple of home brewers who work in the White House" who helped "make it our own.
"To be honest," Kass wrote. "We were surprised that the beer turned out so well since none of us had brewed beer before."
"As far as we know the White House Honey Brown Ale is the first alcohol brewed or distilled on the White House grounds. George Washington brewed beer and distilled whiskey at Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson made wine but there's no evidence that any beer has been brewed in the White House. (Although we do know there was some drinking during prohibition)
Since our first batch of White House Honey Brown Ale, we've added the Honey Porter and have gone even further to add a Honey Blonde this past summer. Like many home brewers who add secret ingredients to make their beer unique, all of our brews have honey that we tapped from the first ever bee-hive on the South Lawn. The honey gives the beer a rich aroma and a nice finish but it doesn't sweeten it.