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It’s National American Beer Day
Celebrate National American Beer Day by learning about the rich history of beer brewing in America from Native Americans to colonists.
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VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Get ready to raise a glass and celebrate America’s long standing history of brewing, by enjoying a pint on National American Beer Day today, Tuesday, Oct. 27.
National American Beer Day raises a glass to the rich American beer making history and those who savor the continued traditions. Brewing beer in America began long before Europeans arrived the New World. In fact, Native Americans brewed beer from a variety of ingredients. Reportedly, the tribes used corn, birch sap, and water to ferment their beverage.
By the time the first colonists arrived in Virginia, the European transplants began combining their brewing traditions with the supplies at hand which included corn they borrowed from the Native Americans.
At that point, brewing and brewers became a principal occupation in the New World colonies. In fact, according to reports, the first white child born in Manhattan grew up to be the first brewer born in America.
The first brewery in the United States was established by David G. Yuengling. He built the Eagle Brewery in 1829. The brewery survived Prohibition by reducing the alcohol content to within legal limits. The brewery is nearing two hundred years old and still remains in the family to this day.
Out of just over 1,300 brewers in the United States prior to prohibition, only about 100 remained. Americans today can still recognize the names of many of those surviving breweries.
Beer culture in America has been integrated into many facets of society. In Milwaukee, their professional baseball team is named after the brewer. In St. Louis and Denver, the stadiums are named after prominent brewers.
Currently, more than 2,100 breweries are manufacturing beer in the United States. They range in size from industry giants to brewpubs and microbreweries- including Vicksburg’s own Key City Brewery.
So grab your friends and head to your favorite pub. Raise your glasses and celebrate America’s long standing history with beer.
Remember, always drink responsibly and never drink and drive.
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