National Beer Day on April 7th annually, recognizes the world’s most widely consumed alcoholic beverage. Following water and tea, it is the third most popular drink overall.

NATIONAL BEER DAY HISTORY

On April 7, 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt took the first step toward ending Prohibition and signed a law that allowed people to brew and sell beer, in the United States, as long as it remained below 4.0% alcohol by volume (ABV).  Beer drinkers celebrated and were happy to be able to purchase beer again for the first time in thirteen years.

Our research found this day was created as National Beer Day by Justin Smith, a Richmond, Virginia Craft Beer Examiner, and his friend Mike Connolly from Liverpool, England. April 7th corresponds with the date the Cullen-Harrison Act was signed into law and became active.

In 2009, Smith and Connolly created a National Beer Day Facebook page.

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Accidental Beer Connoisseur

My dear friend, Cindy Buckingham, always gave me thoughtful gifts, whether Christmas or birthday. One of them was a Kona Brewing Company Winter Beer Variety Pack.

At this point in my life I was still drinking Budweiser, Coors Light, Miller Lite, etc – domestic pilsners and lagers. No variety. So I drank the Big Wave, Fire Rock, Wailua, and Longboard thus leaving Pipeline Porter.

I had chilled a pint glass or three in my freezer, so I poured the porter into the glass but got distracted by an incoming text message. I addressed that, and some other distracting tasks before returning to my poured beer.

IT. WAS. MAGICAL.

Sip after sip, I was loving each successive one. I couldn’t believe it! Then once I finished it, I grabbed a second porter. This time, I popped open the bottle and drank straight from the bottle. It was disgusting. Another sip; still bitter tasting.

HM, my scientific mind thought. Why the difference?

I poured 1/4 of it into my now-room temperature glass, a 1/4 into a chilled glass, 1/4 into a Red Solo Cup and the remaining in the bottle. Taste test after taste test. Unfiltered beers such as porters, and stouts, to have maximum taste efficiency should be aerated. My mind was broken.

The next several outings to bars I would seek out draft poured stouts and porters. ALL of them were a certain level of enjoyment. SING: A whole new world …

I am grateful for my friend, Cindy, and my haphazard approach to life.

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#NationalBeerDay

One of the world’s oldest prepared beverages, beer possibly dates back to 9500 BC when cereal was first farmed. It is also recorded in the written history of ancient Iraq and ancient Egypt.

Perhaps there’s a porter or a Belgian in your glass. Whether yours is fermented or not, dark or pale, hoppy, bitter, smooth, raise your mug. Lift it high among friends around the world, thanking those who work brewing delicious beer in your local area. And besides, beer lovers have more selection than ever before. The craft beer industry continues to challenge the classics, providing a wide variety of choices. Thanks to these opportunities, new beer drinkers are joining the club every day.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL BEER DAY

• (Remember always to drink responsibly and never drink and drive.)
• Grab a beer and spend some time with friends.
• Celebrate with a pint of pale ale, lager, stout, wheat beer or pale ale.
• Use #NationalBeerDay to post on social media.

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Tap That App – Untappd

Speaking of social media (last bullet point) … If I was ever gonna be a brand ambassador it would be for this app – Untappd.

I was posted up at a local bar, enjoying yet another nitro stout, and grumbled under my breath, “I wish there was a way to track my beer journey better than my method.”

The barkeep answered, “Have you heard of the phone app, Untappd?”

“No, can you please tell me more?” I chirped.

“Download the app, then ask me some questions.”

I shrugged my shoulders, “Fair enough.” I downloaded the app and was immediately in love with it. When speaking about it, I summarize it as:

The Facebook of Beer

You take photos, review, rate it, then share it. It’s AH-mazing!

Bellevue Brewing Company

One evening, WCP invited me to meet her friend, Erin, and her new boyfriend, Mike. It was at the Bellevue Brewing Company (original location) I was perusing the beer menu for stouts, porters, since that’s my paradigm shift in beer focus. My eyes landed on Scotch Ale.

Sweet candied nuts off the top, and dance across your taste buds. Nutty notes dazzle you with their rich caramel-ie flavors. There are subtle notes of raisins, and other dried fruits in the middle. The Scotch Ale finish on your palette with more complex caramel, toffee, and bourbon notes.

Bellevue Brewing Company Menu

I like caramel! I will try that. HOLY. SHIT. This was BETTER than any stout or porter I met. I didn’t think that was possible. However, here I was. I completely ignored the fact that Mike was using my iPhone and selecting Tinder matches for me.

Then I realized the Scotch Ale wasn’t just a Bellevue Brewing Company item. It was a widely known finish (process) I searched Untappd for local breweries that served Scotch Ales. There were plenty.

In fact, to celebrate National Beer Day … I’m gonna crack open a Scotch Ale today!