Sure, Sunday is Easter, but for craft beer fans the time to celebrate comes a day early.  April 7, 2012 is National Beer Day, 79 years to the day since the Cullen-Harrison Act took effect and repealed prohibition in America.  Reportedly, people lined up at breweries in Milwaukee the night before in anticipation of being able to legally purchase beer for the first time in 13 years.  I think just about all of us can appreciate that sentiment.

Celebrating National Beer Day as an event got its start in 2009 when Justin Smith of Richmond, Virginia and Mike Connolly of Liverpool, England got together to publicize the idea on facebook.  Once beer fans got wind of it, the number of facebook likes grew exponentially and breweries and bars around the country hopped on board for the fun.

I’m not aware of any Montana breweries or bars holding special events,* but that doesn’t mean we can’t raise a pint in honor of the Cullen-Harrison Act. In fact, it would be a shame not to! What’s your beer of choice for an important celebration?

For Untappd fans, you’ll have an opportunity to earn a new badge for National Beer Day by checking in any beer on April 7.
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* Let us know if you’re aware of one.