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hoppybrewster · 11-18-2012, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kehaar

I am trying my version tonight. It is good. I taste honey up front then a malty sweet finish. Mild fruity hops flavor. I don't get any alcohol taste. It is a pretty heavy beer.

OG 1060
FG 1017

I used wildflower honey from a local bee keeper. The honey was awesome by itself.

I used caramel 60 for the "amber crystal malt."

It seems darker than the pictures from the video. iBrewmaster estimates 10 SRM which seems about right.

You describe my result to a "T". I thought I did something wrong. Lots of honey upfront, sweet, malty heavy finish. Not really fond of it. Gonna let it sit for a couple of months in the basement. What do you think?

**PackerfaninSanDiego** · 11-18-2012, 02:52 PM

What's so special about White House Beer?

**alestateyall** · 11-18-2012, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoppybrewster

You describe my result to a "T". I thought I did something wrong. Lots of honey upfront, sweet, malty heavy finish. Not really fond of it. Gonna let it sit for a couple of months in the basement. What do you think?

I think it's ok for what it is. Not too much to it really. But drinkable. It was fun to brew the same recipe as the white house. But I will go back to my usual styles now.

**Pappers_** · 11-18-2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackerfaninSanDiego

What's so special about White House Beer?

Within a person's lifespan, we have gone from Prohibition to the White House Chefs making handmade beer. I call that progress.

http://www.singingboysbrewing.com/White-House-Honey-Ale.html

**Pappers_** · 11-18-2012, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoppybrewster

You describe my result to a "T". I thought I did something wrong. Lots of honey upfront, sweet, malty heavy finish. Not really fond of it. Gonna let it sit for a couple of months in the basement. What do you think?

Here's my tasting notes http://www.singingboysbrewing.com/The-Blog.html?entry=white-house-honey-ale-tasting

A few weeks ago, we invited a group of friends over to brew a beer based on the White House Honey Ale recipe - you can see the recipe, view a White House video and read more about it here. Although it is still relatively young, tonight, I sat down with a glass and wrote down some tasting notes.

Aroma: Honey is prevalent, with jasmine and lavender elements, perfume-like; malt and hops aroma, if present, are overwhelmed by the honey.

Appearance: Deep copper with gold highlights; white head that dissipates and leaves good lacing; some haze, you can see through but it is not brillantly clear; it might be 'chill haze' which would go away if refrigerated for a few days.

Flavor: While the malt and hops were not apparent in the aroma, they do come through in the flavor; they are balanced, with good hop bitterness, as in a good English pale ale; honey flavor is also apparent, very pleasant, again with a lavender or jasmine element, not cloying; there is an underlying earthiness, which might be from either the honey or the English hops, or both.

Mouthfeel: Some alcohol warmth, but not fusel or 'hot'; medium bodied but with an easy-to-drink dryness to it.

Overall Impression: The honey-character of this beer is apparent from the first sniff and on through tasting; it gives the overall impression of an English pale ale but with significant honey aroma and flavor; it is dry and easy-to-drink, but the honey gives an impression of sweetness and fullness, which isn't really there.

**CGVT** · 11-18-2012, 08:54 PM

Overall Impression: The honey-character of this beer is apparent from the first sniff and on through tasting; it gives the overall impression of an English pale ale but with significant honey aroma and flavor; it is dry and easy-to-drink, but the honey gives an impression of sweetness and fullness, which isn't really there.

That is pretty much my impression of it, Pappers.

I made an all-gain version and I have it on tap. Mine is more of a golden color and is not near as clear as my other beers. I thought it might clear after it was in the keezer for a while, but that has not happened.

I have enjoyed it much more than I thought I would and will brew it again

Edit: And... I think it is really cool that they are brewing beer in the White House.

**alestateyall** · 11-18-2012, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pappers_

Here's my tasting notes http://www.singingboysbrewing.com/The-Blog.html?entry=white-house-honey-ale-tasting

A few weeks ago, we invited a group of friends over to brew a beer based on the White House Honey Ale recipe - you can see the recipe, view a White House video and read more about it here. Although it is still relatively young, tonight, I sat down with a glass and wrote down some tasting notes.

Aroma: Honey is prevalent, with jasmine and lavender elements, perfume-like; malt and hops aroma, if present, are overwhelmed by the honey.

Appearance: Deep copper with gold highlights; white head that dissipates and leaves good lacing; some haze, you can see through but it is not brillantly clear; it might be 'chill haze' which would go away if refrigerated for a few days.

Flavor: While the malt and hops were not apparent in the aroma, they do come through in the flavor; they are balanced, with good hop bitterness, as in a good English pale ale; honey flavor is also apparent, very pleasant, again with a lavender or jasmine element, not cloying; there is an underlying earthiness, which might be from either the honey or the English hops, or both.

Mouthfeel: Some alcohol warmth, but not fusel or 'hot'; medium bodied but with an easy-to-drink dryness to it.

Overall Impression: The honey-character of this beer is apparent from the first sniff and on through tasting; it gives the overall impression of an English pale ale but with significant honey aroma and flavor; it is dry and easy-to-drink, but the honey gives an impression of sweetness and fullness, which isn't really there.

The lavender and jasmine (or any specific flower smells/tastes) is what I don't get in my version. I know that will vary with the honey used but I had hoped for some of that in mine. Mine tastes and smells more like generic honey. I did get some flowery tastes in the raw honey I used but I don't think it translated to the beer.

I also wonder if I have some extract twang. This is the first extract beer I have brewed in a long time and it tastes like what I remember from extract beers.

But, I am not much of a beer judge.

**sweetcell** · 11-19-2012, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackerfaninSanDiego

What's so special about White House Beer?

1. it's from the white house.
2. it's become a communal experience, as 51 pages of comments here - and numerous other threads - illustrate.

the recipe itself is nothing life-shattering, although reviews have been generally positive.

seatbelt123 · 11-28-2012, 01:50 AM

Here's my first pour. I'm happily surprised by this beer. How about that gorgeous head?!

I did the all grain recipe. It will definitely clear in a few days. As a CGVT mentioned above, this beer is characterized by two traits: It's an English ale with Honey. From the Maris Otter and British yeast you get nice bready/nutty and floral/estery notes. And from the honey, a unique aroma and flavor (and alcohol). If anything, my only criticism with this first pour is the elevated alcohol level for the given grain bill - not quite balanced (you might be fine with that, it's just not my preference).

A few quick notes about brewing and fermentation: I did this using my single vessel electric BIAB rig. Brewed this on 11/9 using Wyeast 1098 British Ale yeast (about a 1L stir plate starter). Fermented at about 65F (wort temp) in my fridge for 10 days, plus a few days of diacetyl rest at about 70. Crash cooled at about 34F for 4 days and kegged today.

I chose to brew this because I'm hosting 4 of favorite family member who LOVE Obama. They are going to drink a lot of this!

Cool project. Nice to see the community give it a shot.

Cheers!

Starderup · 11-28-2012, 10:57 AM

I ruined mine because I added WAY too much gypsum to the mash (3 TBS). Entirely my fault. Otherwise, this would have been a great beer. The excessive sulphates gave it a terrible phenolic taste. I had to dump it after drinking about half a gallon. I will definitely do this again, and use S-05 as before. This is an American beer, but I could see doing it English style like the President's staff did. They just don't understand the basics of beer styles, and it is to be expected of noobs.
My favorite part of the whole experience was seeing the picture of the President and a guy drinking a glass on the White House lawn. That guy was a Medal of Honor winner. How cool is that? It is time that our veterans get the recognition they have always deserved.