This week is American Craft Beer Week, an annual event to celebrate the best beer produced in these United States. Me, being relatively new to paying this close attention to all things beer have missed this celebration in the past. American Craft Beer Week started in 2006 by the Brewer’s Association after they changed July’s Craft Beer Month to a weeklong celebration in May. Focusing on craft and independent breweries the American Craft Beer Week was moved to May to kickoff the summer of beer events throughout the nation. The weeklong proclamation is the largest national effort focusing on craft breweries in the nation. This week has two Congressional resolutions to recognize it, one passed in 2006(House Resolution 753) and the other, HOuse Resolution 1297, passed in 2010. Together with retailers, craft brewer’s in all 50 states celebrated over 1,520 events in 2011. This week is no exception as our local scene has many, many events offered to sample the best in locally, regionally or nationally produced beers. Bringing a ton of national pride to my heart as we focus on U.S. owned breweries, this week invokes a strange but proper patriotic vibe. With ALL of this country’s macro breweries owned by non-American companies, how could you not help support the craft beer industry. I did a little run down of these events last Friday and will include more events in Wednesday’s Sips post. In addition to this week, Minnesota will have it’s own Craft Beer Week coming in June, the St. Paul Summer Beer Fest will kick off the week on June 16th. More events to celebrate Minnesota’s small and independent breweries will follow, stay tuned to Beer North for information as it becomes available. Fulton Beer products will be at Stanley’s Northeast Bar Room TONIGHT for a cigar and beer pairing party, interesting to say the least!! Summit’s Saga IPA (their West Coast IPA) Release Party is TONIGHT at the Uptown Cafeteria, reservations are required, so call as soon as possible! A mystery for you, a Black Keys concert after-party will be featuring an extremely rare keg of Lagunitas Waldo’s Special Ale, destination unknown, stay tuned to Beer North Facebook page I will pass the info along as soon as I know it. It is amazing to me how I could’ve possibly missed this in the past, but I did! If you get a chance I suggest getting out this week and hoisting a few pints of America’s Great Craft Beers!
CHEERS!!
