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Lawyer Requests White House Beer Recipe Through Freedom Of Information Act

Genius. The White House has it’s own brewery now, and President Obama’s campaign bus is stocked with 1600 PA Avenue brew. The White House Honey Ale has been the talk of everyone from Jim Koch to home brewers nationwide. Well, a lawyer in California has requested the recipe via the Freedom of Information Act. Brilliant.

Submitted to BSJ is copy of the request to the White House, asking for information pertaining to “White House Honey Ale“. Would be interested to see how the administration responds.

Scott Talkov, Esq.

3880 Lemon St., Fifth Floor
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 682-(BSJ Omitted)
(BSJ Omitted)@gmail.com

August 21, 2012

SENT BY FACSIMILE ONLY
White House Office of Administration
FOIA Officer
725 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20503
Fax: (202) 456-7921

Re:     FOIA Request

Dear White House Office of Administration FOIA Officer :

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

I request that a copy of the documents concerning the following subject matter be provided to me: The recipe of any beer brewed at the White House from January 21, 2009 to present, including, but not limited to beer labeled as “White House Honey Ale.”

I also request that a copy of the documents concerning the following subject matter be provided to me: Any invoices, receipts of other documents reflecting the purchase of any brewing equipment or ingredients purchased for use in the White House from January 21, 2009 to present.

I further request that a copy of the documents concerning the following subject matter be provided to me: Any time sheets or other documents reflecting the name of any personnel responsible for brewing in the White House from January 21, 2009 to present.

As you are likely aware, so long as the government agency has created or obtained the requested materials, the document is an “agency record” within the meaning of the Freedom of Information Act. (United States DOJ v. Tax Analysts, 492 U.S. 136, 144 (1989).) Such records include all books, papers, or other documentary materials made or received by an agency of the United States Government. (See 44 U.S.C. § 3301; Forsham v. Harris, 445 U.S. 169, 183 (1980).) As such, any recipes, invoices, or other documents reflecting brewing at the White House are properly the subject of the Freedom of Information Act.

In order to help to determine my status for purposes of determining the applicability of any fees, you should know that I am a home brewer that is seeking to understand the methods, tools and ingredients used by the first beer to be brewed in the White House to improve my home brewing attempts to clone the White House Honey Ale for personal use, in compliance with Title 27 of the Code of Federal Register, section 25.205(a). This request is not made for commercial use.

I am willing to pay fees for this request up to a maximum of $100.00. If you estimate that the fees will exceed this limit, please inform me first.

I also request a waiver of all fees for this request. Disclosure of the requested information to me is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in my commercial interest. Specifically, this information improves the understanding of home brewers on the methods used to produce America’s presidential beer. This brewing at the White House coincides with a dramatic increase in home brewing throughout the nation. Accordingly, the White House will be able to educate Americans on the methods used in the production of home brewing.

I also include a telephone number at which I can be contacted, if necessary, to discuss any aspect of my request.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Scott Talkov

Scott Talkov, Esq.

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