During the week of May 17-23, craft and home brewers, beer distributors, ale aficionados and the U.S. Congress will celebrate American Craft Beer Week — the “Mother of All Beer Weeks” — across the country. The week is organized by the Brewers Association to celebrate small and independent craft brewers.
In 2006, Congress introduced a resolution to recognize and support small and independent craft brewers and the role they play in the community both economically, by adding more than 100,000 jobs, and socially, as an outlet for citizens to enjoy and appreciate the resurgence of the craft brewing culture since Prohibition. Breweries and bars around the country are participating in events that highlight home brewing, charity fundraisers, brewery openings, special beer festivals, special tours and dinners and new beer releases.
For example, Barley’s Smokehouse & Brewpub in Columbus, Ohio, is holding its eighth annual Mini Real Ale Festival May 22, where more than a dozen craft beers will be served in firkins, the oldest form of dispensing real ale. The Avery Brewing Company in Boulder, Colo., has a week’s worth of events planned, ranging from introducing its new Test Pils golden ale to offering an educational tasting session, “The World According to Avery Brewing Company: A Thorough Introduction to the Craft” for beer novices. In Philadelphia, Dock Street Brewery will launch its Saison DuPotts during Brew Week, while in the Pioneer Valley region of Massachusetts, several breweries will celebrate American Craft Beer Week in conjunction with National Bike Week and host a 45-mile bike ride, stopping at breweries along the way, including Northampton Brewery, Opa Opa, Berkshire Brewing Co. and Element Brewing.
Additionally, breweries and beer lovers are encouraged to sign the Declaration of Beer Independence, an official document that supports America’s small and independent craft brewers either on the website or while participating in Declaration of Beer Independence events either at the Blackfoot River Brewing Company in Helena, Mont., or The Peekskill Brewery in Peekskill, N.Y.
For more information, visit www.americancraftbeerweek.org and see what breweries, bars and pubs in your region are doing to celebrate and get inspired to host your own tribute event.