75th anniversary of the end of Prohibition

So, I think it’s debatable whether April 7th is the right day to celebrate the end of Prohibition, but since the rest of the country seems to be going with it, so will I!  And possibly re-celebrating on other days as well.  I’ve included short blurb on Prohibition, but skip to the end if you just want the details on where to go celebrate.

Prohibition began in October of 1919 when Congress passed the Volstead Act, overriding a veto by President Woodrow Wilson, which specified that “no person shall manufacture, sell, barter, transport, import, export, deliver, furnish or possess any intoxicating liquor except as authorized by this act.”  This law fell under the protection of the 18th Amendment, which had been passed earlier in the year and which specified that “After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.”

Prohibition lasted through the 1920’s, forcing bars to go underground, and giving rise to the speakeasy culture.  It wasn’t until 1933 that it was repealed.  The first step in this repeal was the modification of the Volstead Act by the Cullen-Harrison Act to allow 4% alcohol by volume beers.  On April 7th, 1933, President F.D. Roosevelt signed this law, effectively repealing Prohibition, though the 21st Amendment, which repealed the 18th Amendment, was not ratified until December 5th 1933.

Apparently the Brewer’s Association has decided to celebrate the Cullen-Harris Act instead of the 21st Amendment, so breweries across the country are throwing events on April 7th.  In the San Francisco area, that includes:

Brewery: Rogue Public House
City: San Francisco
State: CA
Phone: 415-362-7880

Brewery: The Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant
City: San Francisco
State: CA
Phone: 415-386-8439
Web Site: www.beachchalet.com
Description: $3 pints in the Park Chalet, FREE brewery tours every hour (on the hour) from 6pm-8pm and a complementary toast at 7:30pm to commemorate the occasion. Prime Rib specials in the Beach Chalet.

Brewery: Russian River Brewing Co.
City: Santa Rosa
State: CA
Phone: 707-545-2337
Web Site: www.russianriverbrewing.com
Description: Did you know that “Blind Pig” was a Prohibition-era term for a speakeasy? Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition at Russian River Brewery April 7th! Blind Pig IPA served in a traditional prohibition-era mason jar for $7 and keep the jar! Refills only $3.

I think that though it is the furthest away, I’ll head to Russian River if I can.  If not, I’ll probably head to the Beach Chalet.  If you are not in San Francisco, check out 75yearsofbeer.org for a listing of events in your state.