Happy National Beer Day from the Bottoms of Our Cups to Yours!

Beer • Breweries

April 7, 2016

Happy National Beer Day!

While you could argue that really, any day is National Beer Day (who wouldn’t want an excuse to tip back one or two?) there’s actually a really good reason that it’s today, on April 7th.  That reason stretches back into the last century, all the way back to Prohibition.

A little history is in order. Don’t worry, it’s only a little!  In 1920, a national Constitutional ban on alcoholic beverages was signed into law in the United States.  Alcohol was thought at the time to be a major social vice, and so it was made illegal.  Of course, that didn’t really stop any dedicated drinkers, and instead of turning the country into a utopia, it opened the door to organized crime and booze cartels, the creation of speakeasies, and had other interesting effects on the drinking culture. But one thing it didn’t do was keep Americans from drinking.

The United States admitted that it was wrong thirteen years later, starting on April 7th, 1933. That’s when a ban on alcohol was partially lifted, allowing for beer with an alcohol content of 3.2 percent or lower (thought too low to be intoxicating) to be sold in so-called “wet” states.  (Prohibition was fully repealed December of that year.)

And the country rejoiced!

It rejoiced so much, as a matter of fact, that it never really stopped. Now we have beer culture (with more than 3,300 brewers in the U.S., a thriving industry that brings approximately $253 billion into our economy every year) and Wine Country and cocktails and, oh yeah, things like San Diego Beer and Wine Tours, none of which would have been possible but for some far-thinking politicians who reversed the ban on alcohol.

So, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate April 7th (also called New Beer’s Day.)  If you’re feeling like a beer, it’s right in the name.  Open one up and celebrate with some friends! But if you’re feeling more historical, try a French 75, one of the more enduring cocktail recipes to come out of Prohibition. We’re sure you’ll find it absolutely delicious.  Or what the heck, why not mix the two and try a delicious beer cocktail on for size? The ideas are absolutely endless.

Oh, and hug a local brewer today. They’ve been through a lot!

Bottoms up!

Brooke B., Molly Pitcher