Once upon a time, the beer lovers of the United States were very sad. The government had ratified the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, banning all intoxicating liquors, including beer, beginning the period of American history we now know as Prohibition.
However, in 1933, the government saw the light and President Roosevelt ended this dark era by signing the Cullen–Harrison Act, which legalized the sale in the United States of beer with an alcohol content of 3.2% (by weight) and wine of similarly low alcohol content, thought to be too low to be intoxicating.
The date was April 7, so now we celebrate National Beer Day to commemorate the occasion! Go grab a beer and toast to your ability to drink it!
Important Dates in Beer History:
1800 BC – The Hymn to Ninkasi, the Sumerian goddess of beer, is inscribed on a tablet. That’s right, an ode to beer.
1920 – Prohibition, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, goes into effect and all intoxicating alcohols are banned. And then, darkness set in….
1933 – FDR’s election meant it was time to put an end to that nonsense. His Congress adopted the 21st amendment, which repealed the 18th.
1972 – Cascade hops were developed in Corvallis, Oregon in 1956. They weren’t released to brewers until 1972, becoming the hallmark aroma of American beers.
Did You Know…?
Beer, it does a body good. Craft beer has plenty of silicon in it, which helps build and maintain strong bones.
India Pale Ale is everyone’s favorite. Well, maybe not everyone’s, but India Pale Ale (IPA) is the most popular craft beer in America.
Presidents make their own. George Washington, Barack Obama, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison all brewed their own craft beers at home—while in office.
Sometimes your cup runneth out. “Cenosillicaphobia” is the fear of an empty beer glass.
Beer is the world’s most widely-consumed alcoholic beverage!
How to Celebrate Beer Day
This holiday is celebrated around the United States by all beer lovers. It is a perfect time to organize a party with a different variety of beers. You can certainly take this day as an excuse to visit your favorite brewery and have your favorite beer.
On this day celebrate the end of prohibition and welcome National Beer Day. There may even be beer festivals or beer-tasting events held in your local area, so why not gather your friends and family to attend them? You can get adventurous and try out various craft beer and other new flavored ale and beers.
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