By John Lutz of D.C. Homebrewers

Our interpretation of White House Honey Ale has been brewed, fermentation has started, and the waiting game is afoot. DCist and I got together last Saturday outside Smith Commons during the H Street Festival for the brewing of our version of the First Beer. The recipe for President Obama’s private brew was recently released largely due to the “We The People” petition that I posted on the White House’s website last month.

After picking up ingredients last week at the the home brewing shop at Three Stars Brewing Company in Takoma, and overcoming a mixup in our yeast shipment (thanks, Amazon), we were ready to brew. Although we were not able to get White House honey, we were gratiously given a pound of D.C.-sourced honey from the American University apiary, located less than five miles from Michelle Obama’s South Lawn garden.

Joined by Bob Rouse, a fellow home brewer, we began brewing about 1 p.m. under clear skies as H Street filled up with revelers. By 3:30, the beer was mixed, boiled and moved to its fermentation tank. It was one of the quickest brew days I have had in a while, largely due to the simplicity of the Honey Ale recipe. It’s a beer easily repeatable by anyone interested in home brewing. Actually, it would make a really good first beer for a novice home brewer.

Currently, the DCist Honey Ale is fermenting in my closet at home. I can hear bubbling coming from the closet, a sign of a healthy fermentation. Now starts a battle with patience. The beer will take two or three weeks to ferment and condition, then another few weeks to carbonate. There will be plenty more updates as we follow the beer’s progression.