Celebrated on the first Friday of every August since 2007, International Beer Day is a day that is celebrated all over the world.

The purpose of this holiday is for friends to gather and enjoy some beer, to celebrate those who brew and serve beer, and to honor the beers of all nations. Although this holiday started as a small local event, it has spread to all six continents over the years.

History of International Beer Day

Originally conceived by Jesse Avshalomov in 2007, International Beer Day was founded by Aaron Araki, Evan Hamilton, and Richard Hernandez in Santa Cruz, California. They convinced their local bar to celebrate it and created a website as a tribute to the beer industry.
However, they did not realize how quickly it would take off. Almost immediately, they started receiving emails from people who found the website and held their own celebrations, some as far away as Africa and the UK. Today, International Beer Day is celebrated on six continents in almost 60 countries and over 210 cities.
From its inception until 2012, International Beer Day was always celebrated on August 5^th. However, that changed in 2013 when a poll of fans suggested that the first Friday in August would be better. It is now celebrated on the first Friday in August.

International Beer Day Customs & Celebrations

There are several ways to celebrate International Beer Day. First, you can gather a group of friends and sample beers from other countries. Second, you can thank and tip your bartender for their service, and third, you can drink a beer from another country that you wouldn’t ordinarily try.
Other ways to celebrate this holiday include giving the gift of beer or attending one of the International Beer Day events near you. If there isn’t an IBD event, perhaps you can start one.