Days of the Beer, December 7

The beer for today is Warbird Brewing Company WarHawk Pale Ale.

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise military strike on the United States' naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The result of this attack brought the United States into World War II, with a declaration of war against Japan on December 8, and against Germany on December 11.

Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The events that led up to the attack included the 1940 U.S. Export Control Act, that halted shipments of airplanes, parts, machine tools, and aviation gasoline; this was taken by Japan as a provocation. In the summer of 1941, the U.S. ceased oil exports to Japan, who was getting 80% of their oil from the U.S.

The attack led the U.S. from isolationism to the public accepting participation into the war.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our secretary of state a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

The McCollum Memo...

The "McCollum Memo" was an 8 point action plan, that was devised by Lt. Commander Arthur McCollum, of the U.S. Navy. In the plan, he outlined 8 steps that the U.S. would have to take that would cause Japan to attack the U.S. The memo was given to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt around October 7, 1940. On October 8, 1940, the Japanase Ambasador warned the U.S. that the (before mentioned) Export Control Act, would be considered an "unfriendly act".

Four battleships, three cruisers, one minelayer, and 188 aircraft were lost that day. There were 2,345 military deaths and 57 civilians killed. More than 1000 people were wounded.

Many of the 188 planes lost that day were P-40 Warhawks.

As to the beer:

Warbird Brewing is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They love beer, and retired military airplanes.

Warhawk Pale Ale is the best pale ale I've ever tasted. It is a truly "drinkable" pale ale. Warhawk Pale Ale is an American-Style Pale Ale, which means that it has assertive American hop character. You can really taste the Cascade hops. But what makes this a "drinkable" pale ale is the malt. We use premium 2-row malt and 3 specialty malts to give this beer the full malt complexity required to balance a "hoppy" beer. If you're a Pale Ale fan, you will absolutely love this beer. I guarantee it.

I'm not sure who said that, but it's on their website.

The beer comes in at 7.3% ABV.

So, for the lives (and planes) that were lost in the day of infamy, have a beer named after those planes.