Welcome I hope you enjoy our series sharing Unique Holidays: August 2nd, 2021. Take a look at the Holidays being celebrated today and let me know which one you most would like to celebrate and why.
David says he is more than happy to celebrate both Holidays while Charlie and I will pass on both. That is unless you would like to celebrate Jolly Ranchers Watermelon Candy.
Did you know that Watermelon is 92% Water? No wonder it’s so refreshing! People have been digging into this tasty, juicy Fruit for Millennia and it all started in Ancient Egypt. It’s said that Watermelon cultivation began in the Nile Valley as early as the second Millennium B.C. Watermelon Seeds were even found in King Tut’s tomb! On August 3, we celebrate this ancient Berry in a feast of juicy deliciousness—otherwise known as National Watermelon Day.
When is National Watermelon Day 2021?
There’s nothing like beating the heat with Summertime’s most refreshing Fruit, which is celebrated on National Watermelon Day on August 3rd.
History of National Watermelon Day
The juicy, refreshing Watermelon deserves its own day, that’s why we celebrate National Watermelon Day. Cultivation of this Fruit dates back to 2000 B.C., with the first Watermelon harvest on record occurring approximately 5,000 years ago in Egypt. Traces of Watermelon and its seeds have been discovered on sites of the 12th Egyptian Dynasty, including in the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Paintings of different types of Watermelon have also been found in ancient Egyptian inscriptions.
The Fruit we enjoy today is the result of mutations over the course of a thousand years of cultivation. Watermelon seeds were sold to traders passing through the trade routes in the Kalahari Desert in Africa. From there, the cultivation of the Watermelon spread across Africa. The origin of the progenitor of the Watermelon was in Africa, after which it spread into Mediterranean Countries and other parts of Europe. By the end of the ninth Century, Watermelon cultivation became common in China and the rest of Asia.
According to “The Dictionary of American Food and Drink” by John Mariani, the word ‘Watermelon’ first appeared in the English dictionary in 1615. The Watermelon is commonly known as a type of Melon, but it is not in the genus Cucumis. The outer rind of a Watermelon is dark green with yellow stripes or spots. Over 300 varieties of Watermelon are available in the U.S., ranging from red to white, and come in different shapes and sizes.
Today’s five facts about watermelons:
- By weight, Watermelon is the most-consumed Melon in the U.S., followed by Cantaloupe and Honeydew.
- Watermelon is 92% Water.
- The first recorded Watermelon Harvest occurred nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt.
- Watermelon’s official name is Citrullus Lanatus of the Botanical family Curcurbitaceae. It is cousins to Cucumbers, Pumpkins and Squash.
- Early explorers used Watermelons as Canteens.
Get ready to raise a glass and celebrate India Pale Ale Beer Day. This annual occasion aims to increase appreciation of one of the world’s most popular types of Craft Beer, using Social Media to spread the word.
Learn about India Pale Ale Day
India Pale Ale Day has been created to celebrate the drink that is India Pale Ale! If you’ve never tried India Pale Ale before, now is the perfect excuse for you to do so. India Pale Ale has high levels of Alcohol and it is a hobby style of Beer, with Hops referring to the flowers of the Hop flowers, which are used for flavoring and bettering Beer. They also act as a stability agent. Aside from the bitterness, they impart Citrus, Fruit, or Floral Aromas and flavors.
This type of Beer has undergone a bit of a Renaissance in recent times. It was developed in 1840 in England, which we will explain more about in the section below. However, this style of Beer had mainly died out. That was until the Renaissance of American Craft Beer occurred in the late 20th Century. Today, India Pale Ales are flagship Beers for Craft Brewers all around the world, making them exceptionally popular. Because of this, it is only right that we have India Pale Ale Day to celebrate this type of Beer!
There are a number of different types of India Pale Ales that are produced today. This includes a lot of different sub-styles. For example, you have the Double India Pale Ales, which are also called Imperial India Pale Ales. These represent a very Hoppy and strong type of India Pale Ale, which usually have an Alcohol content that is more than 7.5 percent by volume. The style is believed to have originated with Vinnie Cilurzo, who is the owner of California’s Russian River Brewing Company. It is believed that he created this style at the Blind Pig Brewery in California in 1994. This brewery is now defunct.
Another type of India Pale Ale that is popular today is the New England India Pale Ale. This is also sometimes called Juicy India Pale Ale or Hazy India Pale Ale. This is a style of Beer that was invented when the Heady Topper was created by John Kimmich, of The Alchemist. These India Pale Ales have an emphasis on Hop aroma, with low bitterness. They are characterized by Floral, Citrus, and Juicy flavors. They also have a hazy appearance, hence why they are often called Hazy India Pale Ale, and they have a smooth mouthfeel or consistency. These characteristics are reached through a use of a number of different brewing techniques. This includes adjusting the chemistry of the Water, the timing of adding the Hops, and the use of a certain strain of Yeast.
This merely scratches the surface when it comes to the different types of India Pale Ales that you can find on the market today. You can also get Brut India Pale Ale, which is a dry and crisp version of the drink. The Enzyme Amyloglucosidase is added to the drink in order to get rid of the Sugars to create this drink. There is then Cascadian Dark Ale, which is also known as Black India Pale Ale, which is not pale in color, as the name suggests. It has a much darker Malty flavor because of the use of Roasted Malts, yet it shares the same bitter Hoppy flavors. You also have West Coast India Pale Ale, which is known for being dry, very clear, and having a low content of Malt. Or, what about Triple India Pale Ale? This type of Ale is characterized by higher Alcohol content and higher Hop flavors. The Alcohol content for this type of India Pale Ale tends to be over 10 percent ABV.
History of India Pale Ale Day
By the early 18th century, most of the Pale Ales that were available were quite different from those that we enjoy today and they were lightly Hopped. By the middle of the 18th century, Pale Ale was usually brewed using Coke-fired Malt, which created less roasting and smoking of Barley during the process of Malting, and this resulted in a Beer that was paler in color. October beer was one of these varieties of Beer and it was a well-hopped, pale brew, which was extremely popular amongst the landed gentry. They brewed the Beer domestically. After it was brewed, it was intended to the cellar for a period of two years. However, it was later when these Ales were exported to India…
IPA beers date back to the late 18th century, when these Ales were brewed for British Sailors making long Sea Voyages to India. Most Beers didn’t keep well on board ship, but London brewer George Hodgson was one of the first to develop a pale Ale with a high Hop content, which kept its taste better.
The special day isn’t sponsored by a particular Beer brand, but brings together breweries large and small, along with an assortment of Beer buffs and bloggers. Hundreds of events are organized, including India Pale Ale tastings and festivals, so look out for a celebration at a bar near you. Cheers!
How to celebrate India Pale Ale Day
Of course, the best way for you to celebrate India Pale Ale Day is to enjoy an IPA! As mentioned earlier, there are now many different types of India Pale Ales that are available on the market today. So you can have fun trying the different types and varieties that are on offer. You could even have an IPA tasting event with your family and friends. You can get an array of different bottles of India Pale Ales, and you can all enjoy tasting the different versions and trying your favorites! To split the costs, get someone to bring a different type of India Pale Ale with them, and then you can take turns trying out the different Ales that everyone has to offer.
If you really want to honor India Pale Ale Day, you could have a go at creating your own India Pale Ale! You can buy kits that have everything you need to get started and make your own. Or, you can decide to do it the hardest, yet purest way, and source everything you need separately and make your own IpA. You can find lots of guides and instructions online regarding how to do this, so you will have all the assistance you need to help you along the way. But you are going to need a bit of pre-planning if you do decide to go down this route, though! After all, IPA is not something you will be able to make in a matter of minutes.
Today’s IPA History:
- The first known use of beer, “India Pale Ale”, IPA, was in the Sydney, Australia in 1829.
- IPA is consistently the top selling Craft Beer style in America, representing around 18.4% of total Craft Beer sales.
- Double IPAs (also referred to as Imperial IPAs) are a stronger, very Hoppy variant of IPAs that typically have Alcohol content above 7.5% by volume.
- American-style IPA is generally drier and uses American Hops to give an intense Hop profile with more Floral, Citrusy, Piney, or Tropical characteristics.
- English-style IPA is generally Maltier flavored brew that uses English Hops and Yeasts, giving a more Fruity and Herbal aroma with a lower ABV than American IPAs.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
