NATIONAL BEER DAY

Every April 7 is National Beer Day, a time where we can raise a toast to the oldest and most venerable of all beverages. People have been making beer for over 5,000 years; in fact, the oldest recorded recipe we know of is for beer.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL BEER DAY

Beer is the world’s most widely consumed alcoholic drink, and it’s easy to see why. It comes in hundreds of types, flavors, and proofs. People have been drinking it for thousands of years; scientists have found evidence of beer production dating to 7,000 BC. Ancient Mesopotamians wrote poems about it, and considered it proof of divine existence. The Ancient Egyptians used it in a number of religious ceremonies. In Medieval Europe, monks made beer their monasteries, elevating the craft of brewing to an art form. Today, only water and tea are more widely consumed than beer, and over 35 billion gallons of beer are produced worldwide per year.

National Beer Day celebrates the day in 1933 that the Cullen-Harrison act was signed into law, reversing the prohibition on selling beer in the United States. In 2009, a Virginian man named Justin Smith decided to commemorate this historic day, and created his own unofficial National Beer Day. Since then, it has been recognized by the state of Virginia, and unofficially by millions of brew aficionados nationwide.

One of the best things about beer is the sheer number of varieties that exist. IPAs, Pilsners, Stouts, Sours… the list goes on and on. In terms of alcohol content, beer usually ranges between 4-7% ABV, meaning you can sip a cold one on a hot summer day without much worry of intoxication. Last but not least, it’s sold in six-packs, so you can share with your friends!