CBS News/ September 16, 2011, 9:53 AM

White House brewing its own beer

Former Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer, who was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Thursday, had a simple but unusual request when White House staffers talked to him a few days ago, reports CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante.

Meyer said he would like to have a beer with the president.

Great idea- right? And how could the president refuse?

So it happened. Mr. Obama and the war hero hung out together on the patio outside the Oval Office.

Wondering what brand they were drinking? Are you ready?

It was -- the White House's own brew, made with equipment the Obamas bought with their own money -- the first beer ever made at the White House, according to historians.

It is White House Honey Ale.

It was the first beer served at the Super Bowl party. A very small batch -- 90-100 bottles -- all consumed that day.

The White House chefs have been brewing since, a little at a time. There was some for St. Patrick's Day, another batch in June, and the beer served to Sgt. Meyer.

And just for the record: Home-brewing is legal in Washington, D.C.

Plante says he's never tasted it - but he keeps volunteering!

© 2011 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
77 Comments Add a Comment
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orlandorays says:
When drinking the Flavor-Aid just isn't enough...
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cybberia says:
Just an observation based on the harrasment us Wisconsin Homebrewers have been getting. Unless the White House Chefs live at the White House (which they may, but I don't think so)it is illegal for them to brew at the white house and serve it guests. If as a homebrew club, we cannot serve our homebrew to fellow homebrewers because A) the beer must be served to guests and family of the homebrewer only. B) The Homebrewer must brew their beer on their own premises. So like I said, unless the chefs live there, they are ignoring the law. Also, the Chefs would have to brew less than 200 gallons a year, and they must serve the beer. Someone else cannot serve it. At least that is what homebrewers in Wisconsin have been getting in trouble for.
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NaptownWicked replies:
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Homebrew, like pretty much every other law involving alcohol, vary GREATLY State to State. Even county to county. Don't hate cuz you live in an area with crappy laws! ;)
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yougogirl60 says:
Reading these insulting idiotic "comments" just proves how low America has sunk. There are too many semi-literate people in this country thinking they are clever. NOT!
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Randy_Gillespie says:
there is a surplus of beer, so the beer workers are out of work, so they can't buy the beer ... thus, the relative surplus (supply/effective-demand ratio) increases ... generalize this to the world product ... the computers are here and getting better ... the robots are starting to arrive ... add it up ... the wage-base economy is dead ... ... ... create jobs in a condition of surplus? why? ... ah, the people need money ... so let's raise taxes and/or debt to create a lot of useless jobs and have the "workers" go to "work" together in the rush hour ... have i got this right? ... ... ... and now the white house is adding to the surplus ... lol
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calif7 says:
At least we have a man in the White House who can appreciate the fine art of brewing beer. Plus he can drink it responsibly. Good for Obama and good for America!
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noloyalisti says:
Can you imagine if the Bush Crime Family brewed beer? They would have to name it Liars Ale or Demolition Porter or Treason Stout. Or maybe Regulation Light.
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involved_indi replies:
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I like "Patriot Ale", or "Presidential Honesty Lager" better.
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springgirl12 says:
This is a cute story. Thank you Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer for your service and thank you president Obama for all you do. *CBSnews, jsyk the White House did not serve this beer at the St. Patrick's day party. You should really do better research.*
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Excalibrationist says:
"White House brewing its own beer"
...swish for it's usual bad taste, but don't swallow this poison!
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dmeyer40 says:
White House Honey Ale - Starts out smooth but ends up leaving a bad taste in your mouth.
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icon-oclast says:
I wish everyone would stop dissing the man. After all, he's been hard at work hitting golf balls, eating lobster & trying to read the small print on the Teleprompters. He needs some down time . . . and besides, look at what awaits him at night.
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