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The Brew Deal: How Beer Helped Battle the Great Depression
During the final stages of Prohibition, the US government allowed the consumption and sale of “non-intoxicating” beer, which was at or below 3.2% alcohol-by-weight. Beer’s return—permitted with an eye toward job creation during the Great Depression—was one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s earliest New Deal policies. In this book, economic historian Jason E. Taylor takes readers through the rapid resurgence of American breweries and shows how beer helped spark a sharp recovery in the spring of 1933.
Taylor begins with stories of how the nation’s 1,400 breweries were decimated by the onset of Prohibition in 1920. He then turns to the frothy debates that led Congress to declare 3.2 beer “non-intoxicating,” and hence allowable under Prohibition. While April 7th is now celebrated as “National Beer Day,” the original April 7th—when legal beer returned after more than 13 years away—brought raucous scenes that make today’s Mardi Gras festivities seem tame by comparison.
The Brew Deal shares stories of breweries, people, politics, perseverance, and the various roles that 3.2 beer has played in the evolving American beer scene.
Taylor begins with stories of how the nation’s 1,400 breweries were decimated by the onset of Prohibition in 1920. He then turns to the frothy debates that led Congress to declare 3.2 beer “non-intoxicating,” and hence allowable under Prohibition. While April 7th is now celebrated as “National Beer Day,” the original April 7th—when legal beer returned after more than 13 years away—brought raucous scenes that make today’s Mardi Gras festivities seem tame by comparison.
The Brew Deal shares stories of breweries, people, politics, perseverance, and the various roles that 3.2 beer has played in the evolving American beer scene.
278 pages, Paperback
Published December 2, 2024
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April 26, 20252025-04-30 I finished last night and am hosting/introducing the author at an event tonight, with him talking about the book. Hope to get back to finishing this review soon.
But one point I wanted to add now: he has a nice sense of humor and inserts a bunch of fun puns.
2025-04-25 Started reading this last night. Very interesting, though a bit too detailed/too many little historical stories to back up each major point.
Fascinating history of the 18th Amendment to the Const. (prohibiting intoxicating beverages' manufacturing, transport and sale), especially concerning beer and the definition of "intoxicating beverage") and later it's repeal by the 21st Amendment and modification of the Volstead Act.
Pretty even-handed.
Gave new light to why FDR was first elected and Hoover defeated.
The battles and relative strengths of the "Wets" (politicians who favor no prohibition of alcohol) vs. the "Drys" (Politicians for prohibition) at the Federal level and among the state (and some municipalities) history is very intriguing. I have not seen the author mention the "Baptists and Bootleggers" theme yet, but I bet/hope it is coming, since it is a crucial insight into the politics for this issue (and others).
I'm only about 25% finished, so will update this review and give a rating when I finish. But since I am hosting the author to give a talk on the book this coming Wed. I will try to get the reading done ahead of then.
Note: I am reading the Kindle edition, and, as with so many books on Kindle, there are a significant number of typos. Doesn't make the reading that much more difficult, but it just annoys me and takes more time for me, since I tend to take time to note them.
But one point I wanted to add now: he has a nice sense of humor and inserts a bunch of fun puns.
2025-04-25 Started reading this last night. Very interesting, though a bit too detailed/too many little historical stories to back up each major point.
Fascinating history of the 18th Amendment to the Const. (prohibiting intoxicating beverages' manufacturing, transport and sale), especially concerning beer and the definition of "intoxicating beverage") and later it's repeal by the 21st Amendment and modification of the Volstead Act.
Pretty even-handed.
Gave new light to why FDR was first elected and Hoover defeated.
The battles and relative strengths of the "Wets" (politicians who favor no prohibition of alcohol) vs. the "Drys" (Politicians for prohibition) at the Federal level and among the state (and some municipalities) history is very intriguing. I have not seen the author mention the "Baptists and Bootleggers" theme yet, but I bet/hope it is coming, since it is a crucial insight into the politics for this issue (and others).
I'm only about 25% finished, so will update this review and give a rating when I finish. But since I am hosting the author to give a talk on the book this coming Wed. I will try to get the reading done ahead of then.
Note: I am reading the Kindle edition, and, as with so many books on Kindle, there are a significant number of typos. Doesn't make the reading that much more difficult, but it just annoys me and takes more time for me, since I tend to take time to note them.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review