National Beer Day: Where To Celebrate In Montgomery County

ROCKVILLE, MD — National Beer Day, celebrated every year on April 7, is Wednesday. Breweries could be good places to mark the day, which highlights one of the country's most popular drinks.

In Montgomery County, breweries are open for either in-person dining, pickup, or delivery. Check with your local brewery for their COVID-19 rules and regulations.

• 7 Locks Brewing — 12227 Wilkins Ave., Rockville; 301-841-7123
• Astrolab Brewing — 8216 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring; 301-273-9684
• Brookeville Beer Farm — 201315 Georgia Ave. Brookeville; 443-463-8901
• Denizens Brewing Company — 1115 East-West Highway, Silver Spring; 301-557-9818
• Elder Pine Brewing & Blending Company — 4200 Sundown Rd., Gaithersburg; elder@elderpine.com
• Rock Bottom Brewery — 7900 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda; 301-652-1311
• Saints Row Brewing — 1211-1213 Taft St., Rockville; visit website
• Silver Branch Brewing — 8401 Colesville Rd., #150, Silver Spring; info@silverbranchbrewing.com
• True Respite Brewing — 7301 Calhoun Place, #600, Rockville; 301-284-8447
• Wardaca Brewing Company — 4017 Damascus Rd., Laytonsville; 301-774-BEER

National Beer Day marks the anniversary of congressional passage in 1933 of the Cullen-Harrison Act, which eased Prohibition-era restrictions and permitted the manufacture of low-alcohol beer and wines. Nine months later, on Dec. 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition altogether.

In recent decades, craft beer has become the more popular choice for Americans. Craft breweries in the United States date back to the late 1970s, the first opening shortly after President Jimmy Carter signed legislation that made home-brewing legal in 1978.

Now, craft breweries are opening in communities across America. Small and independent brewing companies accounted for 40 of the top 50 top producing craft brewing companies in 2020 based on beer sales volume, according to the Brewers Association.

The year, forever linked with the start of the coronavirus pandemic, brought about a drastic change in where Americans purchase alcohol, Bart Watson, economist for the Brewers Association, said in a statement.

"Breweries who had established packaging and distribution capacity were best positioned to take advantage of the boom in off-premise sales and weather market uncertainty," Watson said.

The D.G. Yuengling and Son Inc., a craft brewing company in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, found itself atop the Brewers Association 2020 list, followed by Boston Beer Co. and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, California.

The Golden State accounts for one-fifth of the top 50 producing craft breweries, with 10 on the list. Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts are also well-represented, with four apiece.

D.G. Yuengling ranked No. 7 in 2020 among all U.S. brewing companies, including non-craft beer makers. St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch came in atop that list.