The day has come, gang. The day you don’t need to justify why you’re holding a beer at 10 am, or better yet, having one for breakfast! This Friday, August 6 is International Beer Day, but we’d rather start the celebration early. So, get ready Calgary!
First things first, let’s back up for a little and share some info on International Beer Day. And if you think this is getting too educational, know that it’s for your own good. Why? So you can pretend to be a connoisseur – duh!
First celebrated in 2007, International Beer Day is an annual drink holiday held on the first Friday of each August. Can we get a standing ovation for this please (come on… a drink holiday?!). Diversity and new experiences are the hallmark of International Beer Day, which means that producers are encouraged to share the art of craft beer, while consumers are introduced to new flavours. So if you were lookin’ got a reason to grab that extra bev’, you’ve just found it!
Throughout the years, we’ve brought you tons of local brewers (which we’re all for), but this year we’re switching things up a bit. Let’s talk American Craft Beer! The Brewers Association has over 5,300 U.S. brewery members (no wonder Beer Day initially started in the States), works to bring U.S. craft beer to the international scene, and especially across our borders. Every brewery gets a fair shake, and you get more options when browsing for that new, fresh ale to pack home! Wanna find some unreal suggestions to switch up your regular brews? Check out their guide here!
One thing to keep in mind is that craft brewers are small, independent and traditional. Their goal is to bring elements of their region and surroundings to the beer, for a true taste of place. While American craft beer was very much inspired by the great brewing nations overseas, they’re not seeking to replicate that of other brewing cultures, but rather to create their own styles and redefine the American beer scene beyond the regular mass-produced lager. That means you’ve got a variety of delicious, high-quality, and full-flavored beers being produced by more than 8,000 independent American craft brewers. Even more? As storage and handling develops further in international markets, that number is definitely going to jump up. Cheers to that!
For the time being, Canada is lucky enough to have access to tons of great options from U.S producers. And while we might not be traveling much just yet, at least we can let our taste buds across the border!
There you have it folks! Some more knowledge you can most definitely bring up during this week to impress your gang. Now go Savor the Flavor Responsibly®
