How to Celebrate National Beer Day in 2018

By Lee Heidel Published April 6, 2018

Beer Alternatives to Champagne — izusek/Getty Images Image used with permission by copyright holder

Yes, there are a lot of holidays. And some of those days are definitely more holy than others. But when it comes to made up, contrived holidays, you can’t be mad at National Beer Day.

Recommended Videos

National Beer Day falls on April 7 every year, commemorating the date in 1933 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Cullen–Harrison Act. That piece of legislation began the rollback of Prohibition and allowed people to buy, sell, and drink beer. According to CraftBeer.com, there are now more than 6,000 breweries operating in the United States. With so many options, we’re presenting a quick guide on how to celebrate our favorite (if fake) holiday.

Revisit an Old Favorite

For many craft beer fans, the quest to try new brews ends up replacing the satisfaction that comes from revisiting an all-time favorite. For this year’s National Beer Day, consider drinking a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, a Dogfish Head 60 Minute, an Abita Purple Haze, or whichever beer you consider your gateway beer – that first craft brew that opened the door to a wider world of beer tastes and experiences.

Toast to Dad

Take a stroll down memory lane and grab a six-pack of the legacy lager that your old man used to drink. Beer is closely intertwined with our history and heritage, and while Miller Genuine Draft and Old Style don’t necessarily have the same cachet as The Alchemist’s Heady Topper, pour one out for dear old dad and celebrate the drink that you both can enjoy.

Take a Chance on a New Style

Conversely, as beer lovers we can also occasionally get ourselves stuck in a rut, pouring from the same style classification over and over again. If you’re a dedicated fan of easy-drinking wheat beers, grab a burly barre- aged stout. If you’ve never tried a gose, hedge your bets and pick one up as a part of a mixed six-pack. Get out of your comfort zone and treat yourself to a new adventure.

Visit Your Local Brewery

Neighborhood breweries create more than just jobs. They create communities. This April 7, stop in your local brew house and take a tour. Meet the brewers and tap room staff. Buy a T-shirt and order a flight. Raise your glass and toast to your health, to new friends and to the glory of National Beer Day.

Topics

Liquor, Beer, Wine & Drinks

Lee Heidel is the managing editor of Brew/Drink/Run, a website and podcast that promotes brewing your own beer, consuming the…

Food & Drink

Sip on these cocktails to celebrate National Rum Day

From the Daiquiri to the Painkiller, rum is the backbone of a huge variety of cocktails

national rum day 2024 high res hibiscus spritz 02 comp

Today is National Rum Day, so let's take a beat to consider this often-overlooked spirit. It's easy to drink, easy to mix, and for that reason it sometimes doesn't get celebrated as much as more challenging spirits like Scotch. But rum is a vast category, encompassing everything from complex, aged fine rums for sipping to sweet spiced rums for casual mixed drinks, so it's worth taking some time to explore all the variety that it offers.

Rum is the backbone of many of the world's favorite cocktails, like the crowd-pleasing Mojito, the easy to make Dark n Stormy, and the perennially popular Cuba Libre. If you truly want to appreciate the nuances of a good rum (short of sipping it neat), then one of the best cocktails to show off all of its complexities is a Daiquiri. With nothing but rum, lime juice, and some sweetener, this is the perfect choice for getting to know new rums.

Food & Drink

Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul’s competing recipes for National Michelada Day

Smokey, fruity, or spicy - there's a Michelada recipe for every taste

national michelada day modelo x dos hombres hero image 1

Today, July 12, is National Michelada Day, so that's the ideal excuse to kick back with this classic Mexican beer cocktail. Beer cocktails aren't the easiest thing to create as beer has such a low alcohol percentage and high amount of water compared to spirits -- but when you get it right, there are few things more refreshing. As the beloved combination of Mexican lager, lime, and tomato juice proves, there's a great way to mix almost any ingredient.

Another fun aspect of the Michelada is its flexibility. You can use clamato juice in place of the tomato juice, pour in an extra shot of spirit, and add whatever combination of hot sauces or umami sauces that your heart desires. As the drink is traditionally served in a glass with a salt rim, you can also add bonus flavors here like making a chili salt or using salt and pepper. And of course you can garnish with anything from fruit to pickles.

Food & Drink

Celebrate National Daiquiri Day by enjoying this classic rum cocktail

Diplomático suggests a traditional or mango version of the Daiquiri

national daiquiri day diplomatico rum

Today, June 19, is the lesser known holiday of National Daiquiri Day. And while when you hear the word daiquiri your mind might go straight to sweet, fruity, slushy strawberry drinks casually knocked back on a beach, this is in fact a classic rum cocktail that's worth making at home to enjoy the flavors of rum.

With a simple combination of rum, lime juice, and sugar, this drink in its classic form has more in common with a gin gimlet than a strawberry slushie. And because of its simplicity, it's a great way to explore the nuances of different types of rum. So if you have a bottle of rum at the back of your home bar that you're not sure what to do with, or if you want to pick up a nice bottle of rum and try some experimenting with it, then the daiquiri is a great choice of cocktail to start with.