I am a fan of craft beer. Craft beer and micro-breweries have taken the country and our area by storm in recent years. From IPAs to Gose to good old fashioned lagers, there is plenty to be found around town.

The first Friday in August is ‘International Beer Day.’ International Beer Day is a day to celebrate and savor the world’s most popular alcoholic beverage. Raise a glass of beer to toast both breweries and bartenders. It is truly a global celebration, enjoyed by people over 50 countries around the world.

People have enjoyed beer since about 6,000 B.C. Ancient civilizations even referred to it as a food staple. There are two categories of beer: Lager and Ale, and thankfully hundreds, if not thousands of varieties. Why there’s a beer variety for almost any and all discriminating drinkers. The exponential growth of small, local micro-breweries, has resulted in a wide range of new and exciting varieties.

The goals for International Beer Day are:
• Enjoy beer! Gather with friends to enjoy the taste of beer.
• Celebrate and recognize breweries and bartenders.
• Celebrate all the beers of the world.

Here are some ways to participate in International Beer Day:
• Drink beer, any is fine.
• Sit on your patio or deck, and soak in summer, along with a refreshing beer of your choice.
• Go on a beer tour. Visit a brewery or micro-brewery.
• Give a six pack or a growler of beer to a friend.
• Have a beer at your local bar or pub. Thank the bartenders (and tip them!).
• To truly celebrate this special day, you should drink imported beer from another country, but we aren’t that picky.

We have a lot of places locally to celebrate International Beer Day! There are several amazing breweries or bars with great selections of your favorite style of beer.

Riepstein’s will always be my local favorite. Bart is always working on something amazing on the West End, and has something for every taste. Personally, I’m still holding out for another round of his cucumber saision.

New Trail Brewery is just up the road from Riepstein’s. They are always doing something fun with their offerings. The inclusion of fruit and lactose they did during the fall and winter was amazing and they are doing hazy IPAs like no one else.

The Bullfrog is always a Williamsport staple. Admittedly, I haven’t stopped in recently, but looking at their draft list, the Magno Mango Sour and the Farmhouse Sour Cherry Wheat both look amazing. The Edgar IPA is always a great choice too.

Boom City Brewing is another great place for locally brewed beer. The American Pale Ale, hopped with Mosaic and Citra hops is great and their B.C. Hefe is always a solid choice.

The new kid on the block is Therapy Brewing in Muncy. Not only are they brewing amazing beer, but the atmosphere can’t be beat. It’s a beautiful drive out there and the views from their porch and hill are amazing. But the beer is where it is at. The Easy Come Easy Gose is fantastic and the Nightshift coffee stout is on point.

So get out and celebrate International Beer Day this Friday! Just remember to celebrate responsibly. Never drink and drive. Always use a designated driver or Uber or Lyft.

Also, don’t get carried away, or you’ll be celebrating the holiday that falls on August 3rd … International Hangover Day!