Celebrate New Beer’s Eve Every April 6

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Once upon a time, beer (and any alcohol) was illegal in the United States. New Beer’s Eve celebratess the end of that sad, dry era known as Prohibition.

Technically it celebrates the night before the end.

Beer sales became legal on April 7, 1933. But in scenes much like you see for new Apple products today, people started lining up outside taverns and breweries on the night of the 6th.

At midnight, legal beer sales began.

Since then, April 6 has been New Beer’s Eve. And April 7 became National Beer Day.

 

The End of Prohibition

Prohibition began in 1920 and lasted for (a very long) 13 years.

There actually was a “beer” available during those years, but it contained only 0.5% alcohol. This “near beer” didn’t satisfy anyone.

And of course, illegal alcohol was pretty freely available. Chicago alone had tens of thousands of speakeasies.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Prohibition’s death knell on March 23, 1933. It was called the Cullen-Harrison Act and it allowed beer sales to begin on April 7.

But it didn’t allow all beer everywhere. It basically gave the states the right to decide. So beer sales only became legal in states that passed their own laws allowing it. That was 20 states and the District of Columbia.

And the beer could only have up to 3.2% alcohol by weight (4% ABV). Apparently this was considered low enough that it wouldn’t get people drunk. In comparison, full-strength beer was 5% alcohol (today’s beers are usually 4-6%, but some have as much as 12% alcohol).

All other alcohol was still illegal, too.

 

Just the same, April 7 became a big party

Breweries sold more than 1.5 million barrels of beer that first day. Even with the low alcohol content, we’re pretty sure some drinkers got drunk!

The story goes that Anheuser-Busch used a Clydesdale drawn carriage to deliver beer to Roosevelt just after midnight.

Supposedly the brewer also used a team of Clydesdales to carry beer down New York’s Fifth Avenue. The team stopped at the Empire State building to deliver the beer to former New York Governor Al Smith.

National Prohibition ended, and all alcohol sales became legal, the following December 5 when the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was ratified.

Prohibition may have been over for more than 80 years, but places still exist where you won’t find beer. Or any alcohol, for that matter.

Some local laws still prohibit alcohol sales on Sundays. Other make you wait until afternoon to buy it on Sundays.

And some counties are still completely dry. But most people who want a drink can find one quite easily.

Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this hoppy, unofficial holiday.

 

Celebrating New Beer’s Eve

Now the logical way to celebrate is with a beer.

But technically that would be wrong. Remember, all alcohol was still illegal on April 6, 1933. The gathering on that evening was in anticipation of having a beer at midnight.

But then again, who says we have to stay completely true to history?

So get out to your favorite bar for a mug (or two) of your favorite brew. Some bars even have New Beer’s Eve events. See if there’s one near you.

Or throw a party yourself. Have everyone bring their favorite beer to share. If you want to be authentic, make everyone wait until midnight to drink.

Or, for those of us who never make it to midnight anymore, make the first hour or so dry. Then announce the end of Prohibition and crack open the beers.

If you’ve planned ahead, you could even brew your own beer to try. Learn how:

• How to Brew: Everything You Need To Know To brew Beer Right The First Time
• Beer Brewing Made Easy With Recipes (Boxed Set): 3 Books In 1, covering fundamentals of brewing, tips, and recipes.

 

Get (almost) everything you need to get started with the Mr Beer Premium Gold Edition Home Brewing Craft Beer Making Kit.

Or just get (or have guests bring) a variety of craft beers.

Give each of your guests beer-themed party favors. No, favors are not just for kids … have you heard of the swag bags attendees at the Oscars get?! Those things are amazing.

But you don’t have to be quite that extravagant … even if you could afford it. Try something more like:

• A Periodic Table of Beer Styles
• A Cammo Beer Belt (holds 6 cans or bottles)
• Credit Card Bottle Opener: Fits in your wallet, so you always have an opener handy
• Beer Fridge stickers: Funny warning stickers (“Do not place food or other contaminates in the fridge!”)

 

However you celebrate, be glad your beer is completely legal … Most likely.

 

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