National Beer Day: Where To Celebrate In Chestnut Hill, Mt Airy

CHESTNUT HILL-MT. AIRY, PHILADELPHIA — National Beer Day, celebrated every year on April 7, is Wednesday. Breweries in Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy could be good places to mark the day, which highlights one of the country’s most popular drinks.

In Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy, breweries are open for either in-person, pickup or delivery.

• Chestnut Hill Brewing Co. — 8229 Germantown Ave., Building D, Chestnut Hill
• Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant — 8400 Germantown Ave., Chestnut Hill
• Earth Bread + Brewery — 7136 Germantown Ave., Mt. Airy
• Manayunk Brewing Company — 4120 Main St., Manayunk
• Bald Birds Brewing Company — 4323 Main St., Manayunk
• New Ridge Brewing Co. — 6168 Ridge Ave., Roxborough
• Twisted Gingers Brewing Co. — 4317 Fleming St., Roxborough
• Wissahickon Brewing Company — 3705 W School House Lane, Philadelphia

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 Nine months later, on Dec. 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition altogether.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 D.G. Yuengling and Son Inc. in Pottsville, found itself atop the Brewers Association 2020 list, followed by Boston Beer Co. and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, California.

Pennsylvania had three breweries in the top 50 producing craft breweries. Wisconsin, and Massachusetts have four apiece, and California accounts for one-fifth of the top 50 producing craft breweries, with 10 on the list.

Other PA-based brewers on the list were Artisanal Brewing Ventures in Downingtown and Troëgs Brewing Co. in Hershey

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.

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.