Anheuser-Busch is at it again. Last fall, they released a beer called Budweiser 1933 Repeal Reserve Amber Lager, which they touted as based upon a pre-prohibition recipe. The beer was a step up from Budweiser or Michelob, but truth be told, not a beer that I would buy again after trying it once. For 2018, just in time for Memorial Day, comes Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager, a beer that is strikingly similar to the Repeal Reserve Amber Lager.

First, though, the good news about Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager. From an Anheuser-Busch press release:

The new beer was specially brewed by Budweiser’s own veterans and builds on Budweiser’s long-standing support of American veterans with a portion of proceeds sold this summer benefiting Folds of Honor -- a nonprofit organization providing educational scholarships to military families.

Now, the bad news (for me anyway): like Budweiser Repeal Reserve Amber Lager, Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager also claims a historical connection, albeit one that I firmly reject. From the bottle label:

This red lager is brewed with 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. Inspired by George Washington’s recipe.

It’s the last sentence that troubles me, and here’s why: George Washington did not brew lagers. He brewed ales. Lagers require a special bottom-fermenting yeast that require cooler temperatures than ale yeast does. In addition, they must be cold-conditioned for periods far longer than ales are typically aged. Lager is the German word translating to “to store”.

Refrigeration did not exist in Washington’s time. And while it is possible to brew a lager in the winter and cold store it in caves, it is unlikely Washington would have done this for another reason as well. Washington would surely have been brewing in the English tradition, and English beer meant ale. Indeed, Washington was reputed to have a fondness for porters.

So what’s the George Washington connection? Anheuser Busch does not give the recipe they were inspired by (at least not that I have seen), but I’ll refer to a very famous one.

“Take a large sifter full of bran, hops to your taste—boil these 3 hours. Then strain out 30 gallons into cooler put in 3 gallons molasses while the beer is scalding hot or rather drain the molasses into the cooler. Strain the beer on it while boiling hot let this stand til it is little more than blood warm. Then put in a quart of yeast if the weather is very cold cover it over with a blanket. Let it work in the cooler 24 hours then put it into the cask. Leave the bung open til it is almost done working—bottle it that day week it was brewed.”

This is certainly not a lager recipe. Instead, it’s a recipe for “small beer” (low strength), which Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager is not. The only connection I see is the use of molasses. Sorry, AB, but adding a dash of molasses to an amber lager (one suspiciously similar to last fall’s beer based on a Pre-Prohibition recipe, albeit not as strong) does not make the beer Inspired by George Washington’s recipe in my book.

Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager has an alcohol content of 5.4% by volume and I paid $7.87 for a six-pack at Wal-Mart. My bottles are marked as best before 10AUG18.

Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager pours to a ruby red color with a medium head and a soft stewed malty nose. Taking a sip, the beer is light malty in body with soft nutty maltiness and the faintest hint of caramel, though it tends to peter out towards the finish. I’m not getting the molasses here. To be fair, I’m not getting adjuncts either, and, as with the Repeal Reserve Lager, this is a step up from Budweiser.

That said, I would still rather have a Samuel Adams Boston Lager or Red Oak Amber Lager over this beer any day. Considering the bargain price and decent drinkability, I would give this 3.5 stars, but I’m taking a half star back because I just don’t like the attempt to link this beer to George Washington when it really has little to do with one of his recipes.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft



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