Beer, Motorcycles and Cigars — Beer, Bikes and Butts

For true beer lovers, April 7 is a day of celebration on par with Thanksgiving, or at the very least St. Patrick’s Day.

Prohibition officially ended on December 5, 1933, with the ratification of the 21st Amendment. But earlier that year, newly-elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt took steps to fulfill his campaign promise to end the national ban on alcohol.  He convinced Congress to modify the Volstead Act to allow the sale of 3.2 percent beer in advance of Prohibition’s ratification. Thus on April 7, 1933, Roosevelt himself received newly legalized beer at the White House to toast what was the beginning of the end for Prohibition. In the 24-hours that followed, more than 1.5 million gallons of beer flowed as Americans celebrated.

So remember April 7, and lift a glass to FDR.

Posted on April 7th, 2011 by Aaron Morris
Filed under: Beer Facts, Beer History