Beer and Brewer Magazine

Several months ago US Beer writer Jay Brooks suggested that there should be a holiday to honour the men and women who make beer. Jay suggested that July 18 - the Feast of St Arnou (the patron saint of brewers) as the perfect occasion for International Brewers Day. At Beer & Brewer we thought this was a great idea. There are a number of days and festivals that involve drinking beer - St Patricks Day and Oktoberfest spring to mind - but nothing that celebrates beer and the people who make it.

In keeping with our motto: Drink Less, Drink Better, this isn't a celebration of drinking as much as you possibly can before getting into a fight on the street with someone who you don't like the look of or vomiting in a cab - we'll leave that to the RTD crowd. Instead, International Brewers Day is a time for thoughtful reflection about great beer and is chance to savour it and share it. We also like the day's motto, "Have you hugged a brewer today?"

As this is International Brewers Day's first year we're starting small. Some of the small brewers in Brisbane where I am based are holding a party at the Grand Central Hotel. Something similar is being planned at The Malthouse in Wellington, New Zealand.We hope that next year it will grow and become a world wide movement to celebrate the artists who turn malt, water, hops and yeast into beer. Whatever you're doing this Friday, make sure you raise a glass of a special beer in honour of our brewers.

As the old Czech saying goes:
"Blessed is the mother who gives birth to a brewer."