A little reason to celebrate
New Beer's Eve
Drink · History · April 6
New Beer's Eve recalls the night before beer could be sold legally again in the US near the end of Prohibition, and the crowds that waited for it.
New Beer's Eve falls on Tuesday, April 6, 2027. That is 161 days away.
The name points to one particular night in American history: the evening before beer became legal to sell again as Prohibition was winding down. Congress had passed a law allowing beer of modest strength, and people waited up for the moment it took effect.
Accounts of that night describe crowds gathering outside breweries and taverns, trucks lined up to carry the first legal kegs, and a mood closer to a holiday than a business transaction. For many people it had been years since they could buy a beer without breaking the law. The beer itself was weaker than what most bars pour now. Nobody in line seemed to mind.
Today the evening is mostly marked at the bar or the kitchen table. Some people order a lager in the style that would have been common then, light and crisp and not very strong. Others visit a local brewery, many of which were part of a long tradition that Prohibition interrupted and that took decades to rebuild. Brewery tours and taprooms often have a staff member who enjoys talking about the history of the building or the recipes.
The history is easy to explore without a glass at all. Old newspaper photographs of the period show signs in shop windows, delivery wagons and smiling bartenders. Local historical societies sometimes know which neighborhood breweries survived the dry years by making soda, ice cream or malt syrup instead.
That malt syrup was sold for baking, officially. Plenty of it ended up in home brewing pots.
Ways to celebrate
- Try a classic American lager or a nonalcoholic beer at home.
- Visit a local brewery taproom and ask about its history.
- Look up old newspaper photos from the end of Prohibition.
- Share a story about a historic tavern or brewery in your town.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, April 6 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, April 6 |
| 2028 | Thursday, April 6 |
| 2029 | Friday, April 6 |
| 2030 | Saturday, April 6 |
Also on April 6
- National Caramel Popcorn Day
- National Siamese Cat Day
- National Carbonara Day
- National Twinkie Day
- Fresh Tomato Day
- National Student-Athlete Day
Categories: Drink daysHistory days