In this Episode, Michael talks with Beer Me!’s Justin Smith “Godfather of National Beer Day”. Justin shares his vast experience with the Craft Beer Scene and the origins of National Beer Day (April 7).
National Beer Day is celebrated in the United States every year on April 7, marking the day that the Cullen–Harrison Act was enacted after having been signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 22, 1933. This led to the Eighteenth Amendment being repealed on December 5, 1933, with ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. April 6, the day prior to National Beer Day, is known as New Beer's Eve
Upon signing the legislation, Roosevelt made his famous remark, "I think this would be a good time for a beer. The law went into effect on April 7 of that year in states that had enacted their own law allowing such sales. The beer could contain up to 3.2% alcohol by weight (or 4.05% by volume) compared to the 0.5% limit of the Volstead Act, because 3.2% was considered too low to produce intoxication.
People across the country responded by gathering outside breweries, some beginning the night before. On that first day, 1.5 million barrels of beer were consumed, inspiring the future holiday. Today, April 7 is recognized as National Beer Day and April 6 is known as New Beer's Eve
The Cullen-Harrison Act was not the official end of prohibition in the US (that happened on December 5, 1933 when the 21st Amendment was ratified). What the Cullen-Harrison Act did do was redefine an "intoxicating beverage" under the Volstead Act. As such, April 7 is a beer specific holiday and should not be confused with Repeal Day celebrated on December 5.
National Beer Day was first created in 2009 by Justin Smith of Richmond, Virginia.[10] After much prodding from his friend, Mike Connolly, Smith started a Facebook page that was noticed by Colorado Beer Examiner, Eli Shayotovich. Smith's promotion of the new holiday via various social media outlets was rewarded when the beer drinking app, "Untappd", created a badge for National Beer Day that rewarded participants that checked a beer into the app on April 7.[11] National Beer Day has since been trending every year on April 7 using the hashtag #NationalBeerDay.[citation needed]
National Beer Day was officially recognized by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe in 2017
National Beer Day was officially recognized on the Congressional Record by Congressman Dave Brat in 2017.
In 2018, House Joint Resolution 90 was introduced in Virginia General Assembly to officially recognize National Beer Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NH

Michael Potorti
Founder/Brewer
Host of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcast
michael@craftbeerstorm.com
michael@bearairishbrew.com

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