[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 60 (Thursday, April 6, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E475-E476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING NATIONAL BEER DAY

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. DAVE BRAT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2017

  Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to National Beer 
Day. On April 7, 1933,

[[Page E476]]

the Cullen-Harrison Act, named after the legislation's sponsors, went 
into effect and for the first time since 1920 the purchase, sale, and 
consumption of beer and wine with an alcohol content of 3.2 percent, 
was legal.
  Fast forward 76 years to 2009 when one of my constituents, Justin 
Smith, sparked the idea of celebrating National Beer Day on April 7th. 
In March of this year, Justin's efforts eventually lead to our Governor 
Terry McAuliffe recognizing National Beer Day in Virginia. National 
Beer Day has grown to such prominence that it was recently featured as 
a clue on Jeopardy.
  The impact that craft brewers have on the Virginia economy is 
substantial. According to the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild, the 
Commonwealth of Virginia had 142 breweries and nearly $1 billion in 
economic impact in 2016. The craft brewing industry is growing rapidly 
in Virginia and given current trends, will continue to do so. In 2016, 
Virginia craft brewers took home 13 medals from the Great American Beer 
Festival proving that Virginia's craft brewers are plenty in number, 
but also in quality.
  Craft breweries such as 1781 Brewing Co, Battlefield Brewing Co., 
Beer Hound Brewery, Extra Billy's Smokehouse and Brewery, Far Gohn 
Brewing Co., Final Gravity Brewing Co, Kindred Spirit Brewing, 
Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, Midnight Brewery LLC, Rock Bottom 
Restaurant & Brewery, Steam Bell Beer Works, Strangeways Brewing, The 
Answer Brewpub Co., and Willow Spring Brewery are located in my 
district.
  I'm delighted to have so many craft brewers supporting the local 
economy, providing jobs, and promoting the safe consumption of beer in 
my district.

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