Just in time for summer, Budweiser announced the newest member of its Reserve Collection. In October 2017, the brand revealed the 1933 Repeal Reserve Amber Lager with a pre-Prohibition recipe. Following the success of the launch, Anheuser-Busch revealed a real summer treat: the Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager. Brewed by Budweiser's veterans, the beer is an ode to the beer brand's support of veterans throughout its history. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to military families.
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As of 2018, the company has raised $14M to support Folds of Honor. In a press release, Major Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor, said of the partnership:
"To call Budweiser a partner would be an understatement - they are considered family to us and the 3,000 families their donations help to support. Freedom Reserve is a great testament to their unwavering dedication and compassion for our armed forces and we salute them."
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The second lager in the Reserve Collection, Freedom Reserve Red Lager is inspired by George Washington's hand-penned recipe from his personal military journal that dates back to 1757. That makes it a pre-America recipe, y'all. Packaged in the vintage stubby bottle and one-pint cans, the Red Lager is brewed with toasted barley grains. A slightly sweet aroma combines with a touch of hops to craft a rich caramel malt taste. The smooth finish has hints of molasses, and the view from the glass isn't too shabby, either. Traditional of red lagers, the clear copper color will please both novice beer drinkers and those who know their way around the craft beer circuit.
The limited-edition recipe and brew isn't all, though. A select group of Budweiser's brewers that are also veterans brewed the beer, and their signatures are proudly on each bottle and can. As Ricardo Marques, vice president of Budweiser, said in the press release:
"We are incredibly proud of our Freedom Reserve Red Lager because it was passionately brewed by our veteran brewers who have bravely served our country. With Freedom Reserve, we remain dedicated to our mission to support our veterans and their families through our longstanding partnership with Folds of Honor."
Will you try out this new beer when you see it in stores? An ode to United States history and those who fought for our country, it's worth trying out this brew from George Washington's own hand-written recipe.
