When George Washington was a young colonel during the Seven Years War he kept a notebook to keep track of tasks while he was in charge of the Virginia militia. Among his notes about correspondences to be written and a list of his horses names, there was a recipe for small beer. To create an experience in honor of America250 that engages all of the senses, The New York Public Library partnered with local brewery Talea to recreate that recipe, and we got a taste.
Small beer is a low alcohol beverage that everyone drank in the 18th century because it was safer than imbibing potentially contaminated water. The main ingredient in Washington's recipe is molasses, which gives the beer a rich, sweet taste. When we took a sip, it made us think of festive spiced beverages that are usually drunk around the winter holidays.
Eric Brown, Talea's Head Brewer, says they followed the recipe almost exactly, using a baking molasses, hops, water, and yeast, with a few modern techniques to ensure the beer would be shelf stable and stay fresh.
Talea also made a modern beer inspired by Washington’s recipe, but adjusted for contemporary tastes. This Liberty Lager carries a higher alcoholcontent but is a little lighter in color and more refreshing in taste than the original recipe. You can raise a glass in one of Talea's five New York city taprooms (one is located right across the street from the library) and other local bars including Fraunces Tavern, which is where our Spies of the Revolution Tour ends.
Washington’s beer recipe is viewable in the NYPL digital collections. You can explore more revolutionary history throughout the summer at the Library’s special exhibit, Declaring America: 1776 and Beyond, which opens on June 15th. The exhibit will be accompanied by many upcoming events, including timed viewings of the Declaration of Independence. Learn more about the drinking habits of revolution-era New Yorkers on our upcoming tour of colonial taverns!
Taverns of Colonial New York: Cocktail Tour 🗓️ June 26th 🎟️ Includes 2 cocktails (or non-alcoholic beverages)
Explore the sites of former colonial taverns, coffeehouses, and breweries where politics and plots were shared over drinks, then enjoy two cocktails inspired by 18th century ingredients as you relax inside relax a new bar inspired by old whaling taverns.
