A Good Time For a Beer

We’ve made it. It’s New Beer Day once again: That magical time of year when Malts, hops, and yeast reign supreme. I know, many of you say “That’s everyday, isn’t it?”. True. But, this one is written on a calendar. And, don’t you just relish an excuse to celebrate? And, this one is actually predicated on actual historical events. On this day in 1933, the Cullen Harrison act went into effect, drawing down the period of prohibition. While it didn’t actually end prohibition, it loosened the restrictions. Before the bill, anything over 0.5% alcohol was prohibited. They changed that level to 3.2%. This compromise allowed weak beer to once again legally flow. Upon signing the bill, Franklin D Roosevelt, reportedly, said “I think this would be a good time for a beer.”

Indeed, it was. The Great Depression was in full swing. Starting in 1929, it didn’t officially end until 1941 when the US entered WWII. FDR entered office March 4, 1933 in the midst of the greatest financial catastrophe. This act came across his desk March 22. So, he wasted no time in finding relief for the American people. Even if the financial problems still persisted, at least people could have a beer. In a way, it’s the least they could do. By the end of the year, he signed a full reversal of prohibition into law with the 21st amendment. Besides allowing alcohol to flow, this also helped stimulate the economy, while stemming violent gang activity. Instead of fighting criminals at great expense, while said criminals took hard earned money, everyone benefited from the return of legal alcohol.

Virginians said this is A Good Time For a Beer

Despite this legislation dating to 1933, the official moniker of New beer day didn’t enter the vernacular until 2009 when a man from Richmond, VA started a Facebook page that was picked up by prominent beer publications, and spread throughout the beer loving community. By 2017, Terry McCauliffe, Governor of VA officially recognized the date. And, republican representative Dave Brat, also of Virginia, got the date registered nationally in congress in 2017. Why Virginia? Who knows? It just seemed to happen that way. I suppose they wanted to be remembered for something other than being the seat of the confederation during the civil war.

Regardless of motivation, we are thankful for this day. And, we shall drink to it. Maybe a couple beers will help us contemplate the deep ramifications of the meaning of the original legislation and the subsequent naming of the holiday. Preferably, after enough beer, we won’t care either way. So, Cheers!

How did we get here?

Why was the 21st amendment such a momentous occasion? To Understand this, let’s look at the context. Throughout the 19th century, there were several temperance movements with varying levels of success. One group, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) gained a lot of power. One of their members, Carrie Nation, would walk into saloons with a group of women singing Christian hymns. She began smashing bar stock and fixtures with a hatchet to express her (and her group’s) displeasure with all things alcohol. She was arrested over 200 times. But, the message got out. And, the congress of this period was intent on changing the constitution, passing 4 amendments in less than 10 years. To put that in perspective, there are now 27 amendments. The last amendment passed in 1992 (a ratification of a proposal from 1789). There have only been 5 amendments in the past 60 years.

The prohibition amendment passed in 1919, and went into effect in 1920. Ironically, women’s suffrage also passed in 1919. That seems a little coincidental. Most of us think of Susan B Anthony and the suffragettes as a positive, progressive movement for women’s rights. But, it may have had more to do with congress making a deal with the temperance movement. Conservatives probably regret making that deal, given the direction women’s rights movements have gone. And, it was a conservative government at the time. Woodrow Wilson, Warren G Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover, all republican presidents, served during prohibition. The period was progressive from a business perspective. But, it crashed in major fashion in 1929 with the great depression. It took FDR in 1933 to bring the country back. And, he was right when he said “I think this would be a good time for a beer.”

What went wrong?

Herbert Hoover was a wealthy mining engineer who ended up working in Government under Woodrow Wilson. He served as commerce secretary and several other posts under all the presidents during the prohibition period. While he did some positive things like providing humanitarian aid to our European allies and building the air traffic and radio industries, everything was financially based. The policies of the 20’s were fiscally liberal and socially conservative. Historians blame Hoover’s mishandling of banking and other fiduciary venues for the great depression. Instead of accepting the blame, though, he accused Mexican Americans for the financial woes of the country and deported millions. Guess what, it didn’t fix the problems. If this sounds familiar, remember, those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

And, don’t forget, prohibition created a dangerous criminal enterprise that sapped our country’s resources instead of providing tax revenue. When FDR took over, he had to deal with a persistent economic catastrophe. It got worse before getting better. But, overturning prohibition definitely helped, not only in building morale, but alleviating crime, and increasing economic opportunities for law abiding citizens. Plus, this was the first and only time an amendment was reversed. Apparently, people don’t like the government to take rights away from them. Indeed, all the other amendments are either procedural or grant rights, not restrict them. While 6 Amendments passed During the period of Wilson to FDR, only 6 more have gone through since then. And, those have to do with voting rights, presidential terms, and congressional pay.

Beer and Politics Don’t Mix

There was a time when people didn’t talk politics in polite conversation. Today, party affiliation is synonymous with one’s identity. People say things, sober, that used to only come out after a few beers. The irony is that politicians used to use beer as a calming tincture. People like Orin Hatch would deride Ted Kennedy on the floor of the Senate, then sit down for a beer at the end of the day, and actually bond over their humanity. But, beer and politics have a checkered past. When the house of representatives voted to overturn the ACA in 2017, they rushed to the white house to have a premature beer party. The bill didn’t pass the senate. And, there is a long list of famous politicians who drank too much, Like Franklin Peirce, Ulysses S Grant, and Ted Kennedy. Even George Washington and (unsurprisingly) Richard Nixon were known to overindulge.

Then there is one of the defining moments in American history that alcohol fueled: the Boston Tea party of 1773. A group of American Patriots sitting around a pub began feeling the effects of the drink while ruminating over the unfair taxation of tea. So, someone decided they would dress up like Indians and throw tea in the water. Sheer brilliance to a bunch of drunks. Sure, the symbolism lasted. But, it was a really stupid plan. Can you imagine Samuel Adams going home to his wife and explaining what he and his buddies did? “You did what? You dressed up like Indians? And, you threw tea off a boat? Wow. Pure genius. WTF is wrong with you? This is a good example for your children? Why can’t you be more like your brother John? He’s going to be president one day. What will you do, start a brewery?”

Politics aside, it’s A Good Time For a Beer

Beer is a many splendored thing, as the song goes. And, after a few beers, you may even like it when Andy Williams sings it. While it angers up the blood when politics comes up, it also leads to fun and allows people to blow off steam. Perhaps its time we went back to the days before identity politics, when you didn’t talk religion and politics in public, especially when you’ve been drinking. Sporting events bring beer drinkers together. So do concerts, Barbecues, and a variety of social events. So, put the politics aside, and focus on our similarities while we celebrate politicians getting something right for a change. The return of beer is the return of civility to our country and the world. Even if it’s cheap beer, it’s still beer.

Which brings us to today’s assignment. This is a day to enjoy beer, not just swill it down. After 14 years, the people of 1933 savored that long lost flavor. It was like trying something new. Today is a good time to do just that: try something new. If you’re a light beer drinker, drink something a little heavier. And, if you’re a beer connoisseur, you are well aware of the thousands of different beers out there, indulge in a style you’re not used to, or experiment. We recommend a trip to a local brewery. Support artisans in your area. Try a sampler of their offerings. What’s the worst that can happen? You misappropriate a cultural stereotype and throw tea in the harbor? Worse things have happened.

So, let’s get those elbows bending. And, while you’re at it, try brewing your own with our recipe here. In the words of FDR: “I think this would be a good time for a beer.”