05/26/2026
"Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country…You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts of common dangers, sufferings, and successes."
~ George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
What George said.
We share a common country. We’ve learned much from George’s time, and much more since. Out of many peoples, cultures, viewpoints, and stories, we are forged into one. Our stars come from every stripe, and that’s worth celebrating.
For the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Chilly Hollow Brewing Company are proud to present Common Country. This 5.8% pale ale is closely based on a recipe for “middling beer” from Hannah Glasse’s The Art of Cookery, a 1747 cookbook once found on Martha Washington’s shelf. And since George Washington encouraged Americans to buy local, we used mid-atlantic malt and hops.
But why should that be the end of the story?
We’re sharing the recipe for Common Country with you, plus two more based on beer recipes we found in The Art of Cookery. Pick your favorite and brew freely. Don’t be shy. Customize it. Make a version that reflects your local community, culture, and history. We hope you’ll also choose local ingredients, but it’s a free country.
Thank you to Pete Jones of for these wonderful words and the recipe discovery.
Check out our collaboration beer with for in celebration of the Semiquinalcentennial !
We'll be releasing this historical beer next month, so stay tuned for release information.
