Days of the Beer, December 5

The beer for today is Russian River Blind Pig.

On December 5, 1933, Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave the 75% of states needed to enact the amendment. The 21st Amendment overturned the 18th Amendment which outlawed alcohol in the U.S.

There are two methods to approve amendments to the U.S. Constitution. 1. Ratification by the state legislatures of 3/4 of the states. 2. State Conventions. The 21st Amendment is the only one to have been ratified by the State Convention process. The amendment was passed this way because state legislatures were fearful of the still strong temperance movement.

The Amendment was proposed on February 20, 1933. Michigan was the first state to ratify the amendment on April 10. Wisconsin was next in April 25. Ohio, Pennsylvania and Utah all passed it on December 5. Maine and Montana ratified it after, on December 6, and August 6, 1934. South Carolina rejected it, on December 4.

The amendment put alcohol control in the hands of the states. Mississippi was the last dry state, that lasted until 1966.

As to the beer:

Blind pig, has two meanings. The first is as an establishment. Blind Pig's were saloons like a speakeasy. A speakeasy was normally a higher class venue than the blind pig. At a Blind Pig, the saloon keeper would charge customers to see an animal and provide a "complimentary" alcoholic beverage.

The other definition is of a mason jar. A mason jar was known as a pig, and an un-marked mason jar was known as a blind pig.

Blind Pig IPA: Blind Pig IPA was originally brewed by Vinnie at Blind Pig Brewing Co. in Temecula CA. Inspired by the original Blind Pig IPA, this beer is loaded with hop character but only has 6.0% ABV.

So, for the end of prohibition, raise your glass to the people who stood up to the temperance movement. Have a drink for Utah, even though it's got some of the most restrictive laws about bringing beer into their state. Drink it out of a mason jar, just say it's a blind pig.