Grab a stool; it's National Beer Day

Raise a glass, it's National Beer Day on Tuesday.

Easter is over, and Memorial Day is still several weeks off, so why not celebrate the beverage that makes everyone more attractive?

"That sounds like a made-up Hallmark holiday," said Dave Swartz, owner of Coasters Pub and Biergarten beachside on Eau Gallie Boulevard. "I was not aware. But we will be serving beer."

According to that bastion of all truths, the Internet, National Beer Day came into being on April 7, 1933. Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt had taken the first step toward ending Prohibition. For the first time in 13 years, people were allowed to buy and sell beer, as long as it had less than 4 percent alcohol by volume.

On New Beer's Eve — a.k.a Monday — Shelley Hudson, product manager and a bartender at Village Idiot Pub in Cocoa Village, was making plans for Tuesday celebrations.

Patrons who miss work on Tuesday will get notes for the boss: "To whom it may concern: We regret to inform you that your employee will not be attending work today due to National Beer Day."

"We'll be giving happy hour prices all day," Hudson said.

The pub celebrated its grand opening in January with a Prohibition-era theme, so its owners are only too happy to celebrate the end of the 1900s ban on booze.

"I think I'll have a beer tomorrow," said Dave Zimmerman, who was sipping from a glass at the VIP.

"I moved here from New Jersey," the Merritt Island resident said. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of different beers in Florida. I thought I would just find Miller Lite and Coors, but I love Florida Beers."

Elliot Watson of Richmond, Virginia, was also spending New Beer's Eve at the VIP.

"Where I live, there's a huge craft beer community," he said. He'll be celebrating National Beer Day by visiting Tampa Bay and making a stop at Cycle Brewing.

Tuesday is Trivia Night at Runaway Tavern, formerly Crispy's, in Rockledge.

"So a lot of our regulars will be here anyway," said Carrie Vitale, who bought the bar with partner Steve Brozny in February. "But we might incorporate (National Beer Day) into one of our prizes."

Vitale said she received an email about the day from one of her beer distributors.

"I don't think it's a big event in our circles," said Jim Massoni, president and chief executive officer of Florida Beer Co. in Cape Canaveral.

After helping organize the Brewmaster's Invitational at Port Canaveral on April 4, he's now gearing up for American Craft Beer Week, which will be May 11-15.

"That's when the craft beer industry has some pomp and circumstance around the beer," he said. "We'll have events and tastings during that, wo we get a whole week instead of a day."

Massoni chuckled, and admitted that after 14 years in the beer business, he was a little embarrassed National Beer Day wasn't on his radar.

"Heck, we'll do something," he said. "We'll blow it up on social media and see what happens."

Fred Forsley, owner and president of Sea Dog Brewing Co. and Shipyard Brewing Co., had lunch with Massoni on Tuesday. He also was in the dark about the importance of Tuesday.

"I'm a little concerned I might be missing something," the Winter Park and Clearwater resident said.

He's been in the beer business for 23 years, with brew pubs in Orlando, Clearwater and Maine.

"You know, anything that draws attention to beer is a good thing," he said.

Of course Massoni, Forsley and other beer folks in the area say any day is a good day to enjoy beer.

"Every day is Beer Day," Massoni said.

It's not just about beer

If beer isn't your mug of, well, you know, there are a couple of other things to celebrate on Tuesday, according to punchbowl.com. April 7 is also National No Housework Day. Flip on the TV, grab a brewsky and ignore your chores. It's also Pound Cake Day. So if you're planning to honor all the indulgences of the day, you may want to hit the gym or take a walk before settling in.