Yearly archive for 2020

December 31, 1759: Arthur Guinness closed one of the greatest real estate deals of all time. He signed a lease securing land for his brewery for a total of 45 British Pounds Sterling per year and for a term of 9,000 years. The small parcel now sits within the brewery grounds. When the lease was signed the land consisted of a house, fishpond, gardens and a rundown brewery which had laid idle for over ten years. Beer Fest General Admission tickets available now at MBBF.org or follow this link  https://northamericanbrewers.org/ticket-store/

Throughout the medieval times the 26th of December (Saint Stephen Day), the 27th (St. John Day), and the 28th (the Holy Innocents) were known collectively as the ‘Feast of Fools’. On those days crowds gathered in Churches to attend ‘fake’ services and drink beer as they sat in the pews. From there they spilled into the streets and transformed fools and children into Kings and Popes. These celebrations lasted well into the 1500’s but are generally frowned upon today. Beer Fest General Admission tickets available now at MBBF.org or follow

Dec 24th      Side Lot Brewery in Wauconda, Illinois; a one barrel brewery which prides itself on the unusual and creative, has landed in a rather unusual situation. Owner Phil Castello loves providing his customers with a wide variety of beers made with an even wider selection of ingredients and it was two of those ingredients that drew the attention of Hershey’s. The brewery’s website and social media regularly features customer favorites which included a Pale Ale made with Jolly Ranchers and a Porter fashioned from Milk Duds. Hershey took exception

On this date, December 19, 1620, the Pilgrims, low on beer, made landfall at Plymouth Rock. Their intention was to come ashore in the religious tolerant colony of New Amsterdam, but overshot. Desperate, they landed in cold seas; Pilgrim William Bradford explained it was because “…for we could not now take much time for further search or consideration, our victuals being much spent, especially our beer….” Beer Fest Returns in 2021 General Admission tickets to go on sale in time to give as Christmas Gifts Copyright Gregg Smith – his

On this day in 1543 Don Antonio de Medoza granted authorization to Alfonso de Herrera to build and operate a brewery in Mexico City. Truly a landmark event, it was the first brewery in all of the America’s. Beer Fest VIP tickets available now at MBBF.org or follow this link  https://northamericanbrewers.org/ticket-store/ Copyright Gregg Smith – his latest book “American Beer History” is available on Amazon

Andrew E. Slavonic, continues his streak. The World War Two Army Air Corps veteran first became a celebrity in 2018, at age 100, when he credited the effects of a daily 4 p.m. beer as the secret to his longevity. Slavonic celebrated his One hundred Third birthday in the same manner,   “I really think that is what is keeping him going so long,” said his son, Bob Slavonic. Andrew began his streak over a decade ago and continues to this day. Beer Fest VIP tickets available now at MBBF.org

On this day in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson set the legal high limit of alcohol in beer to 2.75% The reason given for the change was to conserve grain during World War One; in reality it was a warm up for Prohibition. As an aside, a level of 2.75% is considered too low to produce intoxication.  Beer Fest VIP tickets available now at MBBF.org or follow this link  https://myidahotix.com/events/2020-mountain-brewers-beer-fest-6-6-2020-58530 Copyright Gregg Smith – his latest book “American Beer History” is available on Amazon

  According to Brand Finance the leading beer brand in the world, is Corona, the remainder of the top Ten are (in order)  Heineken,  Budweiser, Bud Light, Victoria (Mexico), Kirin, Snow (China), Harbin(China), Modelo, Skol. Beer Fest VIP tickets available now at MBBF.org or follow this link  https://myidahotix.com/events/2020-mountain-brewers-beer-fest-6-6-2020-58530 Copyright Gregg Smith – his latest book “American Beer History” is available on Amazon