Did you know… Americans once waited in line overnight just to buy beer?
After 13 long years of Prohibition, April 7, 1933 marked the day beer finally became legal again in the United States. And people didn’t waste a second. Crowds gathered outside breweries and taverns, ready to celebrate the moment the taps started flowing again.
On March 22, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Cullen-Harrison Act which eased Prohibition by allowing the sale of beer, bringing an end to more than a decade of dry restrictions. Effective on April 7, 1933 people could once again buy, sell and consume beer, thus creating the first National Beer Day!
The craft-brew revolution – California redefines the meaning of the Golden State
It almost sounds like the start of a joke — a guy walks into a bar — but this one helped change American beer forever.
In the 1960s, after having lunch in a restaurant and learning that the maker of his favorite beer was closing down, Fritz Maytag decided to do something about it. He walked into San Francisco’s struggling Anchor Brewery and decided to buy it, driven purely by his passion for good beer.
His vision and commitment to traditional brewing methods helped revive a nearly forgotten craft and kicked off the California microbrew revolution. Anchor Brewery would go on to become the first modern craft brewery since Prohibition, and as its influence grew, so did a movement. Home brewers and small breweries began popping up across the state, answering a growing demand for locally crafted, full-flavored beer.
See our expanded story on Anchor Brewery and its influence on craft beer at Anchor Brewing’s Legacy Helped Shape Ventura County’s Craft Beer Scene
Liquid Gold
California’s beer industry has grown into one of the largest and most influential in the country, producing what many consider to be “liquid gold.”
From those humble beginnings, small California breweries continued to open, first concentrated in the north and then spreading throughout the state. Today there are over 400 breweries in the state.
In 2012, 54 countries entered almost 4,000 beers in 95 separate categories at the Biennial World Beer Cup Competition. California’s craft brewers took home 55 medals! This was more wins than any other country had ever won. California has quickly become one of the top brewing states in the world.
Raise a Glass, Ventura County
Today, National Beer Day is celebrated across the country by beer enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike. Breweries, bars, and restaurants often mark the occasion with special events, tastings, and promotions.
And here in Ventura County, that same spirit lives on. From local breweries to neighborhood taprooms, beer continues to bring people together. just as it did back in 1933.
So, whether you’re reaching for a classic lager or a locally brewed IPA, April 7th is the perfect day to raise a glass and celebrate.
🍻 Cheers!
1 comment
We sure love what you do Anacapa Brewing Company! Thank you!!!!