The New York Public Library and TALEA Beer Co. have announced the release of “Liberty Lager,” a limited-edition beer inspired by George Washington’s recipe. This announcement comes as the Library launches “250 Years: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” a system-wide initiative marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. As part of the launch, the Library is also debuting a new, limited-edition NYPL card, publishing a special anniversary book list, giving away books, offering free and instant audio and e-book downloads to select titles, and opening online reservations to view the Declaration of Independence in July.
“Liberty Lager” is inspired by George Washington’s “To Make Small Beer” recipe from a 1757 notebook he kept when he served as a colonel in the Virginia militia. Produced by TALEA Beer Co., the limited-edition brew is available for sale in TALEA’s taprooms and New York City restaurants and retail outlets.
George Washington’s notebook—with the recipe neatly written out on the back page—is representative of the Library’s role as a repository for historic documents, art, and ephemera. The journal is housed in the Library’s Manuscripts and Archives Division at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building alongside other historical items such as Washington’s Farewell Address, an original copy of the Declaration of Independence handwritten by Thomas Jefferson, and a silk protest banner from before America’s Civil War demanding the abolition of slavery.
To learn more about Washington’s recipe—including why the so-called “small beer” was a mainstay of early America—see The New York Public Library’s blog post here.
“As we mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, The New York Public Library is opening its archives, inviting all to come and discuss and experience our shared history—and to taste it,” said Brent Reidy, The New York Public Library’s Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Research Libraries. “By bringing George Washington’s beer recipe out of our archives and into the pint glasses of New Yorkers, we can connect our collection to the public we serve.”
“We’re honored to create Liberty Lager to commemorate America’s 250th,” said Tara Hankinson, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of TALEA Beer Co. “Our goal was to brew an approachable beer that nods to George Washington’s original recipe with subtle maltiness and a hint of hops. We’re proud to bring this lager to life together with The New York Public Library.”
“Beer has played a huge role in world history, from the dawn of civilization to pre-revolutionary America, and into present times. That the New York Public Library and TALEA created a unique beer inspired by historical documents from the collection is a wonderful way to add an extra layer of context to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence,” said Certified Cicerone Anne Becerra.
The Library is launching several other key components of its “250 Years” initiative:
A special-edition New York Public Library card: The Library is debuting a limited-edition Library card featuring the Library’s copy of the Declaration of Independence handwritten by Thomas Jefferson. You can pick up the new card in any of our 92 locations across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island or apply online.
Book list, book giveaways, and instant digital access: “Reading America: 250 Years, 250 Books” is a list of 250 notable books for all ages that reflect on and illuminate the American experience from a variety of perspectives. The Library is giving away nearly 5,000 books from “Reading America” and offering instant digital access until July 31 to select titles, which means no wait times for any of those titles. The book giveaways are available at branches while supplies last.
Free timed-tickets to see the Declaration of Independence: Starting at 10 a.m. today, the public can book free timed tickets to view the Library’s original copy of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson created this copy to document what the Second Continental Congress removed from his draft ahead of ratification—including a fervent rebuke of the slave trade that he considered important to preserve, despite being a lifelong slaveholder himself. This unique document highlights the tensions between liberty and enslavement at the nation’s founding and reveals the ongoing work necessary to live up to the Declaration’s sweeping promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The Declaration will be on view July 1–7. Tickets will be released online weekly on Mondays at 10 a.m. EST through Monday, June 29. Click here to see what is available.
“250 Years: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” is made possible by the generosity of Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Additional support is provided by The Edward & Sandra Meyer Foundation and Iron Mountain.
Support for The New York Public Library’s Exhibitions Program has been provided by Celeste Bartos, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos and Adam Bartos Exhibitions Fund, Jonathan Altman, and Miriam and Ira D. Wallach.
These programs and initiatives are part of the Library’s overall commitment to our branch patrons and education programs, led by the Merryl and James Tisch Director of Branch Libraries and Education. Major support for educational programming is provided by Merryl H. and James S. Tisch.
