DRAFT Magazine

By Will Coghlan

If George W. Bush is to be believed, for the last eight years the West Wing kitchen was stocked with nothing stronger than Buckler, Heineken’s perfectly adequate offering in the non-alcoholic category. It’s a beer that certainly has its place, but in a recent unscientific survey only one-in-four participants said that Buckler actually tastes like beer. Interestingly enough, that’s roughly the same percentage of Americans who approved of Bush’s job performance during his last year in office, but I’m sure that’s just a coincidence.

Beer enjoyed a respected role in daily life at the White House prior to the Bush era, and if Obama’s response to a reporter’s suggestion that he doesn’t like beer is any indication, it looks like real beer could be returning to America’s most storied residence.

Back in September, in the heat of the campaign, “60 Minutes” reporter Steve Croft said that Obama had been trying hard to reach blue-collar voters, noting that the presidential candidate had even “sipped beer with them, which I know you don’t particularly like.”

Obama, who had surely endured more significant campaign trail slights, seemed genuinely peeved by the suggestion.

“Steve, I had a beer last night. Where does the story come from that… I don’t like beer? ” he asked. “C’mon, man.”

So if The President really does like beer, here are a few great brews he and the First Lady should consider having on-hand in the West Wing. These four are hand-picked for the beer-appropriate situations that may present themselves as the First Family settles in at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Victory Prima Pils
If the rumors are to be believed, President Obama plans on replacing the White House bowling alley with a basketball court. It’s nice to imagine the commander-in-chief winding down with some four-on-four followed by a cold brew, and for that occasion we recommend the Victory Prima Pils. Best enjoyed ice-cold, this is pilsner at the top of its game.

Yuengling Premium Lager
Last summer, Hillary Clinton took no small amount of grief for ordering a shot of Crown Royal during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania. A Canadian whiskey for an aspiring American President? It just didn’t seem right. Clinton regained a few points by ordering a beer to go with it: Old Style, from Heileman Brewing Company in Milwaukee. That week Barack Obama also stopped into a Pennsylvania bar and ordered local-favorite Yuengling Lager. It was a perfectly fine choice (not to mention politically expedient), but now that he’s actually the President he should probably step it up to the Premium.

Rock Mountain IPA
Attempting to build consensus? Try plying your White House guests with Rocky Mountain IPA. This easy-drinking ale is not too hoppy, not too sweet, and not too strong, yet still packs plenty of taste. If you’re trying to make everyone in the room happy — IPA aficionados and beer novices alike — this is the beer for the job.

Kona Pipeline Porter
This one works for Barack on so many levels. First, it’s from the Kona Brewing Company in Obama’s home state, Hawaii. Second, it’s brewed with real Hawaiian-grown coffee, and while combining beer with anything other than beer is often a risky venture, Kona pulls it off with aplomb. Not only does the coffee infusion add a great toasty flavor to the brew, but it also provides a caffeine kick to help keep Obama on his toes during those interminable state dinners.

Will Coghlan is the host of Political Lunch, a daily online video program covering national politics, a subject he enjoys considerably more when served with a quality brew.