My husband will be doing a HAPPY DANCE this evening when he comes home and I let him know August 2nd is International Beer Day @BeerDay and you can bet your bottom dollar #BeerDay is one holiday David is going to love celebrating.
What about you. Do you enjoy Beer and do you want to celebrate Beer? If so what is your favorite Beer and why? David likes most any Beer especially if it has a weird flavor like Limes or Tomato Juice but most of the time he drinks Model or Budweiser Ice. Before you ask no, I don’t like any Beer at all.
The taste is horrible and growing up with a Alcoholic even though I drink a little now and then I stay away from Beer. Growing up when I was little my dad’s favorite Beer was Pearl or Bush and as I got older he switched to Bush before he completely quit drinking which he should have done when we were kids. But you can’t make someone do something they don’t want to do. Can you?
Here is a fun fact for you. Beer is one of the oldest drinks the world has ever known. International Beer Day gives fans worldwide just one more excuse to have a round of Beer on the first Friday in August. We all know Beer has a reputation as the drink of choice for the ordinary working man or woman.
When Beer is served up cold and frothy or strong people celebrate International Beer Day on the first Friday in August every year which this year is August 2nd. When Summer’s end begins to loom large. The start of another weekend beckons us to put aside our work, set aside differences, and come together to celebrate our shared love of Beer.
Beer somehow manages to do what politicians have tried to do for centuries and unite people in a common cause for good. Our insatiable thirst for Beer gives us reason to pause; to stop what we’re doing, sit down and converse with one another over a pint or two of a Beer of your choice.
The conversation may be pleasant or not, calm or animated, but somehow Beer makes it possible to agree to disagree and still walk away friends. Plenty of us have no doubt solved many of the world’s problems over a few pints of Beer.
Celebrating mankind’s common thirst for what is likely the world’s oldest and most beloved beverage is what International Beer Day is all about. Humans have been fascinated with Beer since the first grains were accidentally discovered to have fermented, producing a bubbly aromatic product that someone dared to taste then drink, they did not die but instead felt a lovely little buzz, then they smiled and said, “Wow.” Mankind has been obsessed ever since with perfecting Beer recipes and brewing processes in pursuit of the next “Wow.”
Did you know Beer has been consumed by almost every culture throughout human history. The oldest evidence of man’s obsession with brewing Beer dates back to ancient Babylonia and Mesopotamia. I wanted to let you know Archaeologists have unearthed recipes for Beer that were written on clay tablets in 4300 B.C., and ceramic vessels from 3400 B.C. that are still sticky with Beer residue. Everyone drank Beer in ancient Egypt: including pharaohs, peasants, priests, and yes, even children, as part of their everyday diet.
What may be the first song about Beer, was “Hymn to Ninkasi” which is an ode to the Sumerian Goddess of Beer which dates back to 1800 B.C. and includes a recipe for a Beer brewed by female priestesses. I can’t wait to find the song to share with David because we’ve never heard it. Have you?
By the Middle Ages, Christian Monks were brewing Beers, and introduced the use of Hops. Until then, Beers were brewed with local additives like Dates and Olive Oils to add flavor. That doesn’t sound to tasty to me. What about you?
Today’s Beers continue to be brewed with Hops, Herbs, or Fruits that add flavor. That sounds ,much better doesn’t it? Macro, micro, or craft, the art of brewing Beer today remains a craft that employs age-old techniques carefully perfected over centuries and millenniums.
Our collective love of Beer is what Jesse Avshalomov no doubt had on his mind back in August of 2007 while he and a few friends enjoyed some conversation and brews in the Beach community of Santa Cruz, California. Back then his reasons for founding International Beer Day were:
- A time to gather with friends and enjoy the taste of Beer
- A day to celebrate those responsible for brewing and serving Beer
- A day to unite the world under the banner of Beer, by celebrating the Beers of all nations together on a single day
In retrospect, Jesse’s LinkedIn profile reads he “…invented International Beer Day as an experiment in virality gone horribly right.” To you, Jesse. Cheers!
International Beer Day Traditions
Happy hours, chugging competitions, and enjoying someone’s company over a glass of Beer; go “Bottoms up!” on International Beer Day. Most people unite and have a good time over pictures of Beer. Friends are convinced to buy a round of Beer for the gang and, with some luck, a local bartender may offer some Beer on the house. These memorable moments make their way to Social Media with popular hashtags for everyone to see. including #BeerDay
Special deals and hours are set in Pubs, Bars and Breweries, with some places kicking it up a notch and presenting Beer in custom-designed glasses. The bartenders and servers who work round the clock to provide great conversation and Beer just the way we like it are appreciated and tipped generously. If you don’t have money to tip the Staff stay home and drink.
International Beer Day Activities
- Tune up the twang in your voice and head out to your nearest Karaoke venue to pay tribute to Beer. Nobody sings about Beer like American Country music artists. You don’t have to worry about being able to carry a tune on International Beer Day. Just add a little Southern drawl to that twang, and everyone will be singing along with you, celebrating your good taste in music…and Beer.
- It’s a big Beer world, so step out and try something new on International Beer Day. Better yet, why not make a day of it? Tour the Brewery first to learn about the Science behind brewing Beer and then do some flight testing.
- f you are a regular at your local Pub, Tavern or Taproom, leave an extra generous tip at the Bar today. Tell your bartender how much you appreciate him or her. Take their photo and post it on your Social Nedia sites with lots of kisses and hugs. Us the hashtag #BeerDay when posting and please remember to drink and post responsibly.
Ode To Beer Hit Country Songs
- “I Like Beer” was recorded by American Country music artist Tom T. Hall and released in August 1975.”I Like Beer” peaked at #4 as a U.S. Country music single.
- “Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer” was recorded by American Country music artist Billy Currington and released in May 2010. “Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer” was a #1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
- “Beer in Mexico” was written and recorded by American Country music artist Kenny Chesney and released in January 2007. “Beer in Mexico” was a #1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
- “Drink a Beer” was recorded by American Country music artist Luke Bryan and released in November 2013 “Drink a Beer” hit #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
- “Bubbles in My Beer” a Western swing song was originally recorded by “Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys” in 1947 and has been a bar room standard performed by countless Country music artists ever since. I can honestly say I’m not sure I’ve heard of this song have you?
We can’t forget 99 Beers On The Wall or Beer For My Whiskey for My Men by Toby Keith and Willie Nelson. A song I know by heart. Now, I have a question for you. Do you have a favorite song about Beer? If so which song is it and why?
Why People Love International Beer Day
- People should make no judgement when it comes to your taste in Beer. No, matter if you pick up cheap Macro Brews on the way home from work, or savor Craft Brews at the Taproom, we’re just happy there is a Beer for every budget to enjoy on International Beer Day.
- The adult beverage of choice at reunions, backyard cookouts, and get-togethers with friends and family for centuries is Beer. Most of the time someone will offer to bring the Beer. Which is why we think today is a fine day to open a cold Bee and celebrate.
- Who doesn’t love waking up and seeing today is devoted to Beer? We admit we don’t need a reason to enjoy a Beer today. But knowing there are millions of Beer lovers all around the world bending elbows together to enjoy a brewski makes us feel like family on International Beer Day just remember: Drink responsibly.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
