Boulder, CO—Beer lovers, craft brewers, homebrewers, beer distributors, and retailers are all making special plans for the annual American Craft Beer Week taking place across the country May 17-23. The "Mother of All Beer Weeks" celebrates small and independent craft brewers and is a chance to highlight all that the U.S. loves about craft beer. In 2006, the week became the largest national effort focusing on American craft brewers and remains so today.
"American Craft Beer Week has become a cherished tradition, making this annual celebration a great chance to toast craft brewers and to celebrate the advanced beer culture here in the United States," stated Julia Herz, a spokesperson for the Brewers Association.
In the works for the 2010 American Craft Beer Week are special brewery tours, beer and food pairing events, special release craft beers and festivals all across the country. Participating breweries are encouraging beer enthusiasts to sign the Declaration of Beer Independence, an official document to support America's small and independent craft brewers, which is available on the American Craft Beer Week website and Facebook page. And, both breweries and homebrewers alike will brew a special recipe called American Craft Beer Wheat to celebrate.
Highlights of diverse celebrations
For a full list, see the Events database.
Charity Fundraisers:
- Barley Brothers (AZ)
- East Coast (NJ)
- Upslope (CO)
- Diamond Bear (AZ)
Declaration of Beer Independence Events:
- Peekskill (NY)
- Beaver Creek (MT)
Homebrewing Focus:
- Alltech's Lexington (KY)
- Cornerstone (OH)
- Fitgers (MN)
- Liberty Street (MI)
- Moccasin Bend (TN)
- Town Hall (MN)
New Beer Releases:
- Avery (CO)
- Bell's (MI)
- Cigar City (FL)
- Freetail (TX)
- Full Sail (OR)
- Great Divide (CO)
- Hangar 24 (CA)
- Healdsburg (CA)
- Limestone (IL)
- New Belgium (CO)
- Odell (CO)
- Pagosa (CO)
- Table Rock (ID)
- Water Street (WI)
Opening a Brewery:
- Epic (UT)
- Fullsteam (NC)
- Strange (CO)
Special Beer Festivals:
- Central Coast (CA)
- Iron Hill (PA)
- Rogue (OR)
Special Dinners:
- Abita (LA)
- Anderson Valley (CA)
- Battle Ground (TN)
- Chuckanut (WA)
- Flossmoor Station (IL)
- Gordon Biersch (VA)
- NOLA (LA)
- Prescott (AZ)
- Laguanitas (CA)
- South Shore (WI)
- Standing Stone (OR)
Special Tours:
- America's Roadhouse (IL)
- Capital Brewing (WI)
- Clipper City/Heavy Seas (MD)
- Deschutes (OR)
- Draught House Pub (TX)
- Great South Bay (NY)
- Oakshire (OR)
- Ram (ID)
In 2006, the inaugural American Craft Beer Week was recognized by the U.S. Congress with House Resolution 753 (PDF file). Since then, the week has continued to attract interest and support from beer enthusiasts and media, with more than 200 breweries formally participating in 2009.