Pittsburgh-area breweries celebrate National Beer Day

Frank Carnevale | Sunday, April 7, 2019 2:30 p.m.

National Beer Day marks the anniversary of a law effectively repealing Prohibition in America.

On April 7, 1933 a law signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt weeks earlier, the Cullen–Harrison Act, went into effect allowing the sale of beer and wine with a low alcohol content. For beer it allowed for brews with an alcohol content of 3.2% (by weight) to be sold. The belief was you wouldn’t easily get intoxicated with beers with lower alcohol.

When he signed the law, Roosevelt made the famous remark, “I think this would be a good time for a beer.”

The Cullen–Harrison Act lead the way to the ratification of the 21st Amendment later in 1933, which was a repeal of the 18th Amendment, which made Prohibition the law of the land from 1920 to 1933.

To mark the day many Pittsburgh-area breweries shared celebratory tweets. Here are a few:

Penn Brewery, in the Deutschtown neighborhood of Pittsburgh has a deal to mark the day:

Cheers, today is #NationalBeerDay! 85 years ago President Roosevelt took the first step to ending prohibition? Grab a cold one and celebrate today ?

We're also offering our Beer & Cheese sampling platter on special for just $10 (reg $18). pic.twitter.com/dwTAUFrkc1

— Penn Brewery (@PennBrewery) April 7, 2019

East End Brewery in the Larimer neighborhood in Pittsburgh:

View this post on Instagram

When you run a brewery, EVERY day is #NationalBeerDay! Stop by either location to celebrate with us, or get some FRESH LOCAL BEER to take home.

A post shared by East End Brewing (@eastendbrewing) on Apr 7, 2019 at 9:34am PDT

Southern Tier Pittsburgh on the city’s North Side:

Stuck inside all Winter? Tired of the same ol' same old? Spring has sprung and it's time to celebrate so grab your favorite Southern Tier beer and get outside! #GhostYourGoTo #NationalBeerDay pic.twitter.com/vlEbJeiVE3

— Southern Tier Beer (@stbcbeer) April 7, 2019

Grist House Brewery in Millvale:

Happy #NationalBeerDay pic.twitter.com/FuCjtC4jka

— Grist House (@GristHouse) April 7, 2019

Spoonwood Brewing in Bethel Park:

View this post on Instagram

Happy #nationalbeerday ????? Say hello to Killer Diller IPA, the ship that flies our flag. Rooted in 2-row malted barley and light caramel malt, neatly hopped with Ekuanot, Columbus, Mosaic, and Simcoe. Splendid simplicity. #craftbeer #indiapaleale #ipa

A post shared by Spoonwood Brewing Co. (@spoonwoodbrewing) on Apr 7, 2019 at 8:27am PDT

Yuengling, from Pottsville, Pa., has a contest for a vending machine:

We’re celebrating #NationalBeerDay by giving away a custom Yuengling vending machine to one of our superfans. Show us how you’re our biggest fan in a pic/video with #YuenglingSuperfan to enter. Rules: https://t.co/27H2ivGWUc pic.twitter.com/93EO4U2ObK

— Yuengling Brewery (@Yuengling_Beer) April 7, 2019

Budweiser shared a message from 1933:

#NationalBeerDay marks the beginning of the end for Prohibition.

Today in 1933, August A. Busch Jr. took to the airwaves to celebrate. Busch’s message of unity remains: from past to present and person to person, beer builds bridges. ? pic.twitter.com/God8bmJE3c

— Budweiser (@budweiserusa) April 7, 2019