Small Brewery Sunday is here to tie a frothy bow around your Thanksgiving Weekend. The inaugural “holiday” takes place on Dec. 1 at your favorite craft breweries.
The Brewers Association, a not-for-profit trade group dedicated to small and independent American brewers, created Small Brewery Sunday as a way to encourage beer drinkers to support craft brewers.
“Small Brewery Sunday gives us beer lovers a formal reminder that when we buy a growler, crowler, six-pack or pint, we are supporting small brewery businesses and helping them keep their doors open, lights on and fermentation tanks full,” says Julia Herz, the Brewers Association’s craft beer program director, in a statement.
Earlier this year, the Brewers Association declared July 3 “National Independent Beer Run Day.” It aimed to serve the same purpose — for beer lovers to seek out and patronize independent craft breweries.
There are about 7,500 craft breweries in the United States. For its part, Utah is home to 32, according to the Utah Brewers Guild. A handful of others are in various stages of construction.
Small Breweries, Big Impact
The craft brewing industry contributed $79.1 billion to the U.S. economy in 2018, according to the Brewers Association. Even more, craft brewers gave an estimated $92.6 million to charitable organizations in 2018.
Locally, the Utah Brewers Guild pegs the industry’s economic impact is $453 million a year. Craft beer employs about 3,000 people throughout the state.
Share Your ‘Small Brewery Sunday’ Experiences
Here’s a list of Utah’s craft breweries and other beer-friendly establishments we enjoy. Once you’ve polished off the Thanksgiving leftovers, make a stop (or two) to enjoy a pint (or two) on Dec. 1.
After all, you could probably use a break from the family at that point.
But if you’re celebrating Small Brewery Sunday outside Utah, here’s where you can find a craft brewer in your area.
While you’re out and about, be sure to share your experience using the hashtags #SmallBrewerySunday and #SeektheSeal.