ObamaBeer

By JoshMogerman in Food on Mar 12, 2011 10:00PM

OK, this much we know is true: the Obama White House is the first to make its own beer. Stories have been bubbling up about White House Honey Ale since it was served at the President’s Superbowl party. And as the beer brew-ha-ha has grown, an array of incorrect details seem to have been conveniently introduced to suit various perspectives: NPR portrayed Barack as a cool home brewer, while FOX implied he was wasting the nation's time futzing with malts and bottles, Irish media reported that the beer was brewed for St. Patrick’s Day and around here there are reports that a new brew would be colored electric green in honor of the holiday's Chicago River tradition. Sigh. They are all wrong.

ObamaFoodaRama, the “blog of record about Obama food initiatives, with reporting from the White House” debunked a pack of misreported stories…all except the green beer one, which we desperately want to be true, but everyone knows that Michelle is far too classy to let that slide in her White House. On the incorrect notion that the President rolling up his own sleeves, as was widely reported by outlets inside and outside the Beltway, the blog notes:

While the idea of the Commander in Chief hand-crafting beer for guests is fun, he's a bit too busy winning the future to be elbowing his Chefs out of the way in the White House kitchen--because that's who actually brewed the White House Honey Ale, not President Obama.

Still, we love seeing the Obama White House staff doing this stuff. The honey for the first White House-brewed beer came from the White House’s first on-premises beehives. Hops could be in the White House organic garden soon, which has taken heat from factory farm and pesticide lobbyists. Perhaps to insulate against further attacks, ObamaFoodaRama also notes:

Homebrewing has been legal in the US since 1978--and yes, it is legal in DC, where there's a very active cadre of Hop Heads.

One thing is for sure; the President knows the power of beer diplomacy. Beyond his now famous beer summit, he has sent suds to other heads of state like Canadian Prime Minister Harper. Still, some critics will never be satisfied. Chicagoist weekend editor Prescott Carlson asks, “WHY DIDN’T THEY MAKE MEAD LIKE OUR FOUNDING FATHERS?!?!"