Session #22 - The Roundup

Thanks to the Session community for letting Nico and Shaun host this month's Session #22. It was a great experience and the entries were both entertaining and informative: In no particular order, unless you count the order they were received I present "The Session #22: What Does Repeal Mean to Me?"

Lew Bryson of Seen Through a Glass discussed the historical elements and hypocrisy surrounding the backers and enforcement of Prohibition.

Amy from Amy Mittelman Brewing Battles gives an historical account of Prohibition and Repeal and the economic and social impact.

The Beer Nut, wrote about Prohibition in Ireland and how hard it can be to get a decent beer on St. Patrick's Day in Ireland.

Peter of the BetterBeerBlog cherishes that he can drink beer and writes about the historical significance of the Repeal of Prohibition.

Tom of Yours for Good Fermentables discussed how the history of the national repeal of prohibition still left open the possibility of local prohibitions.  

David of  Musings Over a Pint discussed how history can repeat itself, and even in his own backyard, by the neo-prohibitionists and religious backed organizations to once again take away our enjoyment of alcoholic beverages. 

Al of Hop Talk how important the Repeal of Prohibition is to his everyday enjoyment of his passion - Beer. 

Stephen Beaumont's 'grumpy' post on his Canadian perspective on the Repeal of Prohibition.

Chris at Beer Utopia discussed how if it were not for the Repeal of Prohibition we would not have the American Craft Beer movement, nor would we have home brewing. 

Sonnett Beer wrote about how his life might of been different without Repeal with maybe better grades, but at the very least he is now drinking better beer. 

E.S. Delia writes at Relentless Thirst about our culture of alcohol in the United States and how we respond to such issues.

Alan, a Canadian and of A Good Beer Blog brings up the argument -  why are we discussing the 21st Amendment and the transparent tie in with the host blog/brewery? And how Prohibition and the subsequent Repeal had no effect on him.

Rob of PFIFF writes how Prohibition and  subsequent Repeal is a reminder of the power of government. 

Mario of Brewed For Thought writes how a small moral minority can change the direction of a nation. 

Jasmine of Beer at Joe's discusses humorous stories from Prohibition and how people found their drink.

Andy of I'll Have a Beer brings up the point that we have not learned our lessons from Prohibition when we look at the parallel with the United States and international drug prohibition.

Jon of The Brew Site asks the question: where would we be if it weren't for Prohibition?

Marcus of FinalGravity, a pictorial essay of what he can do because of Repeal.

Jay of Brookston Beer Bulletin wrote about how for the past 75 years since the Repeal we have demonized alcohol.

olllllo of the Beer Hack(er) is amazed at how individuals follow their dreams of opening breweries in these archaic post prohibition times.

Captain Hops of Beer Haiku Daily summarizes the history of Prohibition and Repeal in Haiku.

The Scribe of A Mixed Dram is practicing his right to drink! 

Juan of Juan's Home Brewery discusses how with Repeal we have reaped both the good and bad since Prohibition.

Barley Blog writes about how Repeal has afforded him the opportunity to make new friends and share experiences. 

Chipper Dave of Fermentedly Challenged opines on what it would be like if Prohibition were to return.

Dan from Beer-O-Vision gives some great information and links for what Prohibition was like in Buffalo, New York.

The Geist of Geistbear Brewing Blog wrote an account of helping people carry on the tradition of brewing at home all part of our Post-Prohibition society. 

Beerme at Beer and Firkins talked about the absurdity of an Amendment to the US Constitution  that outlawed the consumption of alcohol and how that Amendment effected lifestyles and hobbies.  

Brad at La Petite Brasserie wrote about that without Repeal we would of never seen the growth and innovation in the brewing industry that today gives us an opportunity to drink beer from 1440 craft breweries.

Ray of Bath Tub Brewery discussed how in a representative democracy complacency by the American population can allow for the powerful few to outweigh the needs of the many.

The Session #22 The Repeal of Prohibition

21st Amendment Brewery is thrilled to host The Session in December, and we've chosen a topic that's near and dear to our hearts: the repeal of Prohibition. December 5 is the 75th Anniversary, which brought beer back to the masses.

In 1920, there were thousands of breweries across America making unique, hand-crafted beer. The passage of Prohibition wiped out this great culture. On December 5, 1933, the states ratified the 21st Amendment, repealing the 18th Amendment, thus ending 13 years of Prohibition in America. At the 21st Amendment Brewery, the repeal of Prohibition means we can celebrate the right to brew beer, the freedom to be innovative, and the obligation to have fun.

What does the repeal of Prohibition mean to you? How will you celebrate your right to drink beer?

Here at the 21st Amendment Brewery, the repeal of Prohibition (with the passage of the 21st Amendment) is our national holiday. It is so much more than just the right to brew beer (though we're pretty happy about that part). The repeal of Prohibition was about affirming all that we hold dear as Americans. The right to create, to be entrepreneurial. To be innovative. To choose how to best put to use our own private property.  Prohibition, the 18th Amendment, is the only Constitutional Amendment in our nation's history to take away a right of the people.

Before Prohibition, there were breweries operating in neighborhoods across America. They provided jobs, tax revenue and a local artisanal product that was hand-crafted and couldn't be found anywhere else. Many brewers were German immigrants coming to America to fulfill its promise. Brewers were on the cutting edge of innovation, inventing equipment and systems that benefitted many industries. Brewers were the leading citizens of their communities, providing jobs and spending generously on charities. Breweries were gathering places—not just for drinking but for families and social interaction. The German beer gardens of Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis and New York, to name a few, were famous for their Sunday after-church gatherings where men would enjoy fresh old-world lager and children would play in the grass. The first Continental Congress met in a Philadelphia pub to draft the U.S. Constitution and Thomas Jefferson is said to have written the Declaration of Independence in a tavern over a pint (or several) of ale. George Washington brewed beer. Samuel Adams and Benjamin Franklin and John Adams and many more of our founding fathers brewed beer.

The brewery embodied everything that America was founded on.  Independence, creativity, innovation, the right to be original. And Prohibition killed not just the breweries and the beer, but the spirit of America.

At the 21st Amendment Brewery, we celebrate the America that was embodied by the breweries of old. We dare to brew original beer, not just in its uniqueness, but in its spirit. We represent the post-Prohibition journey back to reclaiming the essence of the neighborhood gathering place.

We will celebrate our right to drink beer by marching through the streets of San Francisco, just as they did 75 years ago today. We will celebrate our right to drink beer with a party at the 21st Amendment all day and all night featuring live jazz, our outdoor beer garden and an authentic "speakeasy". We will celebrate by committing to only drink drinking good, local hand-crafted beer made by people, not machines. Will you join us?
 
Dare to BEER original! 

To participate, pen your post on Friday, December 5, 2008, and leave it as a comment here (for quickest results) or email us a link to your post. Stan Heironymous is already waxing nostalgic about prohibition. 

Next month's Session #23 will be hosted by Brewmiker.