Counting Down to April 7, the Anniversary of the Return of Legal Beer

News about beer and beermaking filled the nation's newspapers in late March, as Americans geared up for Beer Day.

Beermakers in New York City, for example, warned that they'd have to ration their supplies. "We are booked already above our capacity," Henry Piel told a newspaper reporter. "It is quite possible that there may be a shortage of beer at first . . . ." He explained that the brewery would supply its long-standing customers first. Everyone else would have to get in line.

Some of the Milwaukee breweries announced they'd be selling their beer in new metal barrels. Their engineers had been working on the new container for years; now they planned to start using it. (The beer can wouldn't show up for another two years.)

Finally, on this day in 1933, the New York Times ran a long article on the traditions and lore surrounding bock beer. If you're into beer history, it's worth reading.

CORRECTION TO ORIGINAL BLOG ENTRY: When I accessed the bock article, it came up as a "free" read, so I assumed it was free to everyone. But apparently you can only access the article if you have subscribe to the print version of the paper or the online Reader's Service.

See a longer blog entry for March 26 titled "About that Bock Beer Article."

Thanks and tip 'o the mug to Jeff for pointing this out.

Source for Piel quote: "City Beer Shortage Feared By Brewers," New York Times, March 26, 1933, p. 1.