National Beer Day: Where To Celebrate In Ohio

CLEVELAND — National Beer Day, celebrated every year on April 7, is Wednesday. Breweries around Northeast Ohio will be great places to mark the day, which highlights one of the country’s most popular drinks.

Hundreds of Ohio breweries are open for either in-person, pickup or delivery. Find breweries near you via the Brewers Association or through the state's tourism website.

Ohio also recently removed all restrictions on outdoor gatherings, clearing the way for small groups to head out and grab a beer at their favorite local brewery. Ohioans can also visit breweries indoors, though masks will still be required when they're not sitting and sipping.

Read more: Meet Ohio's Largest Craft Brewers

What is National Beer Day?

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 Nine months later, on Dec. 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition altogether.

"Today, it serves as a reminder of the importance of keeping alcohol laws in balance. The beer industry in many states is operating under laws that were enacted before the rise of craft breweries. Bringing beer laws in line with the modern industry will benefit breweries, beer distributors, retailers and, most importantly, consumers," said Justin Hemminger, deputy director for the Ohio Craft Brewers Association.

In recent decades, craft beer has become the more popular drinking 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. Here are the top Ohio craft brewers:

• Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland (No. 22 overall)
• Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati (No. 25 overall)
• BrewDog Brewing Company in Canal Winchester (No. 41 overall)

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.