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Green Beer Day at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, is that wild, can’t-miss college tradition that leaves students at other schools wondering why their campus doesn’t have anything half as legendary. Imagine this: spring semester is humming along, classes are on the schedule for a random Thursday in March (right before spring break kicks in March 23-29, 2026), but by the time the first light hits, half the RedHawks are already lined up outside bars, clutching neon-green pints like it’s the most important sunrise of the year. Welcome to Green Beer Day (GBD) — Miami’s totally unofficial, university hands-off, but straight-up iconic boozy twist on St. Patrick’s Day that turns sleepy Oxford into party central.

The Origin Story: How a Calendar Glitch Became a Legend
Back in the early 1980s, Miami University’s academic calendar pulled a sneaky move and shoved St. Patrick’s Day into spring break. Students were gone, bars were empty, and Oxford’s bar owners weren’t about to let that cash cow vanish. They brainstormed names like “Wild Irish Fun” (1981 vibes), then landed on the straightforward winner: Green Beer Day in 1982. What started as a clever way to keep the taps flowing has evolved into Miami’s biggest drinking holiday — a full-day rager that’s part tradition, part rite of passage, and 100% chaos.

The university? They pretend it doesn’t exist as an official thing. It’s off-campus, not endorsed, and profs are encouraged to hold normal classes (with attendance checks and graded stuff to guilt-trip you into showing up sober). But let’s be real — everyone knows what’s up.

The Day Unfolds: From Dawn ‘Til… Whenever  
GBD kicks off ridiculously early. Bars like the iconic Brick Street (the spot everyone talks about) throw open their doors around 5:30 a.m., with lines already snaking down High Street. Students bundle up in green gear, hoodies, and questionable decisions, ready to watch the sunrise with a pint of artificially (or magically) green beer in hand. Pro tip from veterans: the sunrise from a Brick patio is apparently next-level.

From there, it’s a marathon:

• Morning bar hops — Green drafts flowing, specials galore, and that classic college energy where everyone’s best friends by 7 a.m.
• Darties (day parties) in backyards — Tarps, string lights, DJs on platforms, and playlists blasting whatever gets the crowd hyped.
• Borgs (blackout rage gallons — water jugs turned into personal kegs), ragers, and shenanigans that spill into the afternoon and night.
• Bonus modern twists: ginger runs, themed merch drops, and enough green apparel to make the whole town look like a lime exploded.

It’s not just about the beer (though the green-dyed stuff — once hand-mixed with food coloring, now often truck-delivered pre-green — is the star). It’s the vibes: bonding with friends, making questionable memories, and like you’re part of something bigger than just another Thursday.

Safety, Smarts, and the Real Talk
Miami and Oxford team up every year with safety pushes — extra patrols, forums, alternative events, and free breakfasts uptown for those opting out. Police are out in force on High Street and around campus hotspots. The message is clear: have fun, but don’t be dumb. Underage folks? The FOMO is real, but there are plenty of non-drinking ways to join the spirit (or just Netflix and chill while everyone else recovers).

Why GBD Rules the Miami Experience
In a sea of college traditions, Green Beer Day stands out because it’s raw, ridiculous, and uniquely Oxford. It’s been called Miami’s “biggest tradition” for a reason — even seniors who skipped it feel the blues, like they missed a core piece of the RedHawk journey. It’s the day when the whole town pulses with that perfect mix of excitement, absurdity, and camaraderie.

So if you’re ever in Oxford the Thursday before spring break, grab your crew, your greenest outfit, and dive in. Just remember: hydrate (with water too), pace yourself, and maybe set an alarm for that 8 a.m. class… or don’t. No judgment here.

Cheers to Green Beer Day — the holiday that turns a sleepy college town into party central, one green pint at a time.

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In a festive upset that has brewmasters and holiday enthusiasts toasting alike, the Genesee Brewing Company’s iconic Keg Tree has been crowned Newsweek’s #1 Readers’ Choice Best Christmas Tree for 2025. Outshining giants like New York City’s Rockefeller Center tree and the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C., this three-story marvel—crafted from over 650 empty beer kegs and draped in 25,000 twinkling lights—proves that sometimes the best holiday spirit comes straight from the tap.

The announcement, revealed on November 25, 2025, capped a whirlwind voting period that saw the quirky Rochester tradition rack up thousands of votes from fans across the country. Nominated alongside 14 other iconic displays in Newsweek’s annual Readers’ Choice awards, the Keg Tree surged to the top, earning its stainless-steel branches a spot in holiday history.

“This win is a testament to the creativity and community spirit that defines Rochester,” said Tiffany Bowman, Genesee Brand Manager, in a statement from the brewery. “From our hardworking team stacking those kegs to the fans who lit up the polls, it’s all about celebrating the joy of the season in true Genny style.”

A Tradition Born from Empty Kegs and Holiday Cheer

The Keg Christmas Tree’s origins trace back to 2014, when Genesee Brewery—New York’s oldest, founded in 1878—decided to give its empty kegs a second life as a seasonal centerpiece. Perched beside the roaring High Falls, the largest urban waterfall in the U.S., the structure has grown taller and brighter each year. This season’s edition stands at an impressive three stories, assembled by the brewery’s dedicated union carpenters and illuminated with enough LED lights to rival a small constellation.

What started as a local marketing gimmick has evolved into a beloved rite of winter in the Flower City. Thousands flock annually to the Genesee Brew House at 25 Cataract St. for the lighting ceremony, where the air fills with the scent of food trucks, the sound of holiday tunes, and the clink of cold Genesee Cream Ale pours.

Crowning Glory: The Lighting Event and Special Celebrations

The victory couldn’t have come at a better time—just days before the 10th annual Keg  Tree Lighting on Friday, December 5, 2025. The event drew record crowds from 5 to 9 p.m., with the official countdown kicking off at 7 p.m. under the emcee-ship of Brewmaster Dean Jones. Attendees sipped seasonal brews like the Keg Tree Cinnamon Ale, munched on grub from local vendors, and posed for photos in oversized sleighs and festive igloos handcrafted on-site.

Adding a sweet twist to the sudsy spectacle, Genesee partnered with Rochester’s Donuts Delite for the debut of “Keg Tree Fonuts”—honey bun donuts infused with the brewery’s cinnamon ale. Available through December 5 at the Brew House and the bakery on Culver Road, a portion of proceeds benefited the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester.

Carl Falk, General Manager of Genesee Brewery, beamed with local pride during the festivities. “We’re a Rochester company through and through,” he told local media. “This keg tree isn’t just lights and kegs—it’s generations of hard work and the people who make our city sparkle.”

National Spotlight on a Local Legend

The Keg Tree’s path to national acclaim wasn’t without competition. Newsweek’s contest featured heavy hitters, including the 75-foot Norway spruce from upstate New York at Rockefeller Center (which landed at #5). Yet voters gravitated toward the Keg Tree’s unique blend of whimsy and warmth, with social media buzzing under #GennyKegTree and shares from coast to coast.

USA Today also gave a nod earlier in the season, nominating it for Best Holiday Lights Display. As the tree remains lit through the holidays—visible nightly against the misty backdrop of High Falls—it continues to draw visitors, who are encouraged to tag @GeneseeBrewery for a chance at shoutouts.

For those who missed the lighting, the display is free to view, though ride-sharing is recommended due to limited parking. Head to the High Falls Garage at 262 State St. for the easiest access.

Raising a Glass to Rochester’s Holiday Heart

In an era of cookie-cutter celebrations, the Genesee Keg Tree stands as a reminder that the holidays are best when they’re a little offbeat. Owned by FIFCO USA, the brewery not only brews classics like Genesee Cream Ale and Honey Brown Lager but also fosters traditions that unite communities. This year’s win underscores a simple truth: sometimes, the most memorable trees aren’t grown in forests—they’re built from the empties of good times shared.

As Rochester twinkles on, one keg at a time, Genesee invites all to join the cheer. After all, in the words of the brewery: “O Genesee Keg Tree! O Genesee Keg Tree! How lovely are thy branches.”

Genesee Brewery
Nestled along the Genesee River in Rochester, New York, Genesee Brewery has been cranking out cold ones since 1878, making it one of the oldest continuously operating breweries in the U.S. These guys basically invented the “dad beer” category long before it was cool – we’re talking crisp, no-nonsense lagers that taste like summer cookouts and Friday nights on the porch. Their flagship Genesee Beer (or “Genny” to the locals) and the iconic Genny Light are still brewed with the same pride that turned Rochester into a beer town back when your great-grandpa was rocking handlebar mustaches and suspenders.

But the real party trick? The legendary Genesee Cream Ale – smooth, slightly sweet, and dangerously drinkable, it’s the beer that makes Buffalo wings taste even better and has been confusing beer nerds for decades because yes, it’s an ale that drinks like a lager. Swing by the brewhouse today and you can take a tour, crush a few samples, and snap a selfie with the famous “Genny horse” Clydesdales if they’re in town. Cheap, cheerful, and 100% Rochester – Genesee is proof that sometimes the best things in life come in a green can with a screaming horse on it. Cheers to 145+ years of keeping it real!  Website: https://www.geneseebeer.com/

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Every December, the Genesee Brewery in Rochester, New York, transforms into a gloriously boozy holiday hotspot with the world-famous Genesee Keg Tree—a three-story spectacle built from 650 empty silver kegs stacked like a tipsy pine, wrapped in 25,000 twinkling lights that sync to festive tunes. This shiny aluminum behemoth, standing tall at about 29 feet, has been Rochester’s rowdiest holiday tradition since 2014, drawing thousands of selfie-snapping fans who brave the Genesee River chill to witness the lighting ceremony (just happened on December 5, 2025—talk about perfect timing!). Locals dub it the “Redneck Rockefeller Center Tree,” and with that faint whiff of fresh beer wafting off the recently drained 15.5-gallon beauties, it’s basically Christmas cheer in stainless-steel form. Only in Rochester, folks.

The geniuses stacking these sudsy sentinels? None other than the Genesee Brewery, America’s oldest continuously operating major brewery since 1878, perched on the banks of the Genesee River like a red-brick beer baron. They’re the proud parents of Genesee Cream Ale—that velvety, green-bottled icon that’s smoother than a snowball fight truce and de facto fuel for every Bills tailgate and backyard barbecue in upstate New York. Toss in Genny Light for the lightweights, the malty throwback of 12 Horse Ale, and seasonal stunners like the cinnamon-spiced Keg Tree Ale (proceeds often benefit local spots like the Open Door Mission), and you’ve got a lineup that keeps craft snobs honest while reminding everyone beer doesn’t need to be fancy to be fun.

So if you’re cruising through western New York this frosty season, detour to the Genesee Brew House for a free tour (ending in gloriously generous samples), snap your shot with the 650-keg colossus still glowing strong, and crack a Cream Ale in salute. It’s proof that the best holidays involve a little heavy lifting—150 pounds of empty keg per layer, to be exact—and a whole lot of Rochester weird. Cheers to the tree that outshines tinsel with recycled glory!

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The oldest beer  movie known to man is “The Fatal Glass of Beer (1933)”. This film is a short comedy movie starring W.C. Fields, known for its absurdist humor and deadpan delivery. Set in the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush, the film follows the story of Mr. Snavely (Fields), a dour, long-suffering man living in a remote snow-covered cabin with his wife. Their son, Chester, left home to seek fortune in the city but was led astray by the temptations of alcohol—symbolized by the “fatal glass of beer.”

The film satirizes morality plays and melodramas of the time, with exaggeratedly tragic storytelling and intentionally clumsy staging. Fields frequently breaks the fourth wall, delivering the film’s most famous recurring gag: after dramatically declaring, “And it ain’t a fit night out for man nor beast!” he immediately gets a handful of fake snow tossed into his face.

With its surreal, anti-comedy sensibilities and relentless parody of melodramatic tropes, The Fatal Glass of Beer remains one of Fields’ most bizarre and memorable short films.

Story about W.C. Fields
W.C. Fields was the glorious grouch who turned misanthropy into an art form, a red-nosed virtuoso who hated children, dogs, and just about everything else that moved—except maybe a well-mixed martini and a stack of unpaid bills he could juggle like circus knives. With his bulbous schnozz glowing like a stoplight nobody obeyed and a voice that sounded like a busted bagpipe gargling gravel, he waddled through the 1930s and ’40s snarling lines that still make decent people snort their drinks: “I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally.” Fields didn’t just play drunkards and con men; he elevated them into philosophers of glorious self-interest, forever scheming to swindle bankers, outwit temperance ladies, and keep one step ahead of any kid who might ask him for a nickel.

Off-screen, the myth and the man happily arm-wrestled each other. He kept dozens of bank accounts under fake names (his favorite pseudonym: “Mahatma Kane Jeeves”), hoarded cash in trunks because he trusted banks about as much as he trusted a teetotaler’s handshake, and once told a process server, “Tell ’em I’m out of town—permanently.” He claimed to have started juggling at age nine to fend off his abusive father, which explains why every apple he ever tossed in a movie looked personally offended. Fields died on Christmas Day 1946—a holiday he openly despised—just to get the last laugh, presumably while muttering, “On the whole, I’d rather be in Philadelphia,” the line carved on his tombstone as the ultimate raspberry to the universe. Somewhere right now he’s probably trying to return a cloud to Saint Peter, claiming it has a hole in it.

W.C. Fields Quotes:

• “I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally.”
• “Never give a sucker an even break.”
• “It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.”
• “I cook with wine; sometimes I even add it to the food.”
• “Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people.”
• “I never vote for anybody; I always vote against.”
• “Anyone who hates children and dogs can’t be all bad.” (Actually said about Fields by someone else at a dinner, but he loved it so much he repeated it forever.)
• “A woman drove me to drink and I never even had the courtesy to thank her.”
• “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it.”
• “I like children—fried.” (Apocryphal, but so perfectly in character that it stuck.)
• “Some weasel took the cork out of my lunch!”
• “Ah, the patter of little feet around the house—there’s nothing like having a midget for a butler.”
• “I’d rather have two barrels of Yesterday’s Sauerkraut than all the flowers in the world.”
• “On the whole, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.” (His self-penned epitaph)
• “Christmas at my house is always at least six or seven times more pleasant than anywhere else. We start drinking early. And while everyone else is seeing only one Santa Claus, we’ll be seeing six or seven.”

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The Story of Ken Grossman Brewing and Sierra Nevada Stout – The Brewery’s First Beer
Ken Grossman, the founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, began his brewing journey as a teenager in the late 1960s, inspired by a neighbor’s father who was an avid homebrewer. By age 14, Grossman was experimenting with homebrewing kits, mixing ingredients in a bucket and hiding his batches from his mother. His fascination with the alchemy of fermentation grew, leading him to open The Home Brew Shop in Chico, California, in 1976, where he sold brewing and winemaking supplies while refining his craft.

In 1978, Grossman, along with Paul Camusi, founded Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, driven by a passion for crafting unique, hop-forward beers at a time when American beer was dominated by mass-market lagers. With limited resources—$50,000 in loans from friends and family—Grossman scoured junkyards and dairy farms for scrap stainless steel and repurposed dairy equipment to build a makeshift brewhouse in a converted warehouse in Chico. His mechanical ingenuity, honed through years of tinkering and studying chemistry and physics at Butte College and Cal State Chico, was critical to this DIY endeavor.

On November 15, 1980, at 5 a.m., Grossman brewed Sierra Nevada’s first test batch: five barrels (150 gallons) of stout. This choice was deliberate. Grossman and Camusi opted for a stout over their already-tested pale ale recipe because they believed the dark, robust style would mask any imperfections in their fledgling brewery’s process. As Grossman explained, “We thought that making a stronger, dark beer would cover some of our sins. We knew we weren’t going to sell it and we figured we had a pretty good shot at making a drinkable stout right off the bat.” They also enjoyed drinking stouts themselves. The brewing process was a 13-hour labor of love, and after one sip, Grossman knew it was a success, giving them the confidence to move forward.

While the stout was not intended for commercial sale, it marked a pivotal moment, proving their hand-built system could produce quality beer. This test batch paved the way for Sierra Nevada’s flagship Pale Ale, brewed shortly after, which would revolutionize American craft beer with its bold use of Cascade hops. The stout, though less celebrated than the Pale Ale, remains part of Sierra Nevada’s early portfolio, with the brewery continuing to produce a classic stout alongside other styles like porter and the seasonal Celebration IPA introduced in 1981.

Grossman’s story of brewing that first stout reflects his relentless curiosity, resourcefulness, and commitment to quality, traits that have defined Sierra Nevada’s rise from a scrappy startup to one of America’s largest craft breweries, producing over 1,000,000 barrels annually .

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The B.C. Beer Awards awarded Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s brewing program the “Brewery of the Year” on Saturday in Vancouver, BC.

Other big winners at the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver included Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks of Richmond, which took best in show for its Pixel Pils, and Dageraad Brewing of Burnaby, which scored seven awards, including a sweep of the strong Belgian ale category.

It’s the second major award this year for the KPU brewing program, which also won the Grand National Championship at the U.S. Open College Beer Championship in May.

International Lager
1. Vidal, Townsite Brewing
2. Elementary – Lager, Four Winds Brewing Co.
3. Hashtag Basic, Electric Bicycle Brewing

Pale German Beer
1. Köl Story Bro Kölsch, Brewhall Beer Co.
2. Skyline Lager, Bomber Brewing Co.
3. The Adams Family Festbier, Kwantlen Polytechnic University

German Pils
1. Pixel Pils, Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks
2. Simple Things, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.
3. Beldame, Strange Fellows Brewing

Amber European Beer
1. Marzen, R&B Brewing Co
2. Red Pilsner, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.
3. Helles Lager, Trading Post Brewing

Dark & Strong European Beer
1. Hermannator Ice Bock, Vancouver Island Brewing
2. May the Schwarz Be With You, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
3. Dominion Dark Lager, Vancouver Island Brewing

German Wheat Beer
1. Heftechnik, Brassneck Brewery
2. Chefs Hef, R&B Brewing Co
3. 50/50 Hefeweizen, Kwantlen Polytechnic University

UK Pale Ale
1. Papa G’s ESB, The Noble Pig Brewhouse
2. Bomber Pale Ale, Bomber Brewing Co.
3. Backroads Brewing Pale Ale, Backroads Brewing Company

UK Brown Ale
1. Wee Angry Scotch Ale, Russell Brewing Company
2. Rail Ale Nut Brown, Howe Sound Brewing
3. Outboard Motor Oatmeal Porter, The 101 Brewhouse + Distillery

UK Stout
1. Sasquatch Stout, Old Yale Brewing
2. Tactical Turtleneck, Another Beer Company Inc.
3. Cold Steeped Irish Stout, The Bakery Brewing

Strong Ale
1. Woolly Bugger, Howe Sound Brewing
2. Melle Meo, Howe Sound Brewing
3. Wayfarer, Strange Fellows Brewing

Fruit Beer
1. Tropical Tart, Steamworks Brewing Co.
2. Corvus Lingonberry Lime Gose, Ravens Brewing Company
3. Moon Dance Mango Wheat, Old Yale Brewing

Specialty Fruit Beer
1. Late Bloomer Strawberry Hibiscus Sour, Twin City Brewing Company
2. Asking For A Friend, Backcountry Brewing
3. De Witte, Dageraad Brewing

Spice Beer
1. Yoga Pants Cucumber Basil Sour, Electric Bicycle Brewing
2. Flex Mex, Twin Sails Brewing
3. Nightwatch, Lighthouse Brewing Co.

Smoke- & Wood-Aged Beer
1. The Great Gratzer, Moody Ales
2. Ignis Lichtenhainer, House of Funk Brewing Company
3. Loral Brett Saison, Île Sauvage Brewing Company

Specialty Wood Aged Beer
1. Punch’s Farmhouse Ale, Mayne Island Brewing Company
2. Debauchery Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, House of Funk Brewing Company
3. Scarlet, Steamworks Brewing Co.

European Sour
1. Shiro Shiro, Île Sauvage Brewing Company
2. Troika, Parallel 49 Brewing Co.
3. Little Red One, Strange Fellows Brewing

Specialty Beer
1. Whiskey Sour Ale, Field House Brewing Co.
2. Pilsbo Baggins New Zealand Pilsner, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
3. Gulagubben, Whistle Buoy Brewing Co.

North American Light Beer
1. No Brainer, Brassneck Brewery
2. Red Racer Summer Crush Hopped Lager, Central City Brewers + Distillers
3. Cream Ale, Gladstone Brewing Company

North American Blonde Ale
1. Bastion Blonde Ale, White Sails Brewing
2. Ballpark Blonde, Red Arrow Brewing Company
3. Royal City Ale, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.

North American Pale Ale
1. Hazy Citra Pale Ale, 4 Mile Brewing Co.
2. Palida, Andina Brewing
3. Hazy Pale Ale, Steamworks Brewing Co.

North American Amber & Brown Ale
1. Birra Rossa, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
2. Easy Amber, Nelson Brewing Co
3. Midnight Umber, Red Arrow Brewing Company

North American Porter & Stout
1. Porter, Gladstone Brewing Company
2. Rye Stout, Doan’s Craft Beer Company
3. Bomber Russian Imperial Stout, Bomber Brewing Co.

North American IPA
1. Bomber IPA, Bomber Brewing Co.
2. Shipwreck, Lighthouse Brewing Co.
3. Play Dead IPA, Yellow Dog Brewing

Specialty IPA
1. Ferocious Wild IPA, Yellow Dog Brewing
2. Sipasaurus Rex, Backroads Brewing Company
3. Slingshot Session IPA, Fernie Brewing Co.

Hazy IPA
1. Exp.003.Mkvi – Fluffy Cloud IPA, 33 Brewing Experiment
2. Neon Lights Pale Ale, Brewhall Beer Co.
3. Dreamboat Hazy IPA, The Parkside Brewery

Imperial IPA
1. Psychosis 7 DIPA, Whitetooth Brewing Company Ltd.
2. Numbskull, Lighthouse Brewing Co.
3. One Trick Pony, Brassneck Brewery

Belgian Ale
1. Burnabarian, Dageraad Brewing
2. La Tenace Belgian Single, Whitetooth Brewing Company Ltd.
3. Icefields Pale Ale, Whitetooth Brewing Company Ltd.
Honorable Mention: Jongleur Strange, Fellows Brewing

Saison
1. Five, Dageraad Brewing
2. Small Wonder, Brassneck Brewery
3. The Pass (Collab W/ Blindman), Dageraad Brewing

Strong Belgian Ale
1. 10°, Dageraad Brewing
2. Rosetta, Dageraad Brewing
3. Blonde, Dageraad Brewing
Honorable Mention: 33 Acres of Euphoria, 33 Acres Brewing Co.

Wild Ale
1. Strange Resemblance, Strange Fellows Brewing
2. Mixtape Series: Dry Hopped Sour, Boombox Brewing
3. Pinkies Out Tropical Sour, Foamers’ Folly Brewing Co.

Specialty Wild Ale
1. Mountain View Black Currant Sour, Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks
2. Noble Blend Mixed Culture Saison, Yellow Dog Brewing
3. Rose Changeling, Brassneck Brewery

Dan Small Homebrew Award
Andrew Swanton – The Answers to Life, The Universe and Everything – Dark Mild

Brewery of the Year
Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Creative Industry Awards
Best Flight Paddle
Andina Brewing

Best Growler Design
Andina Brewing

Best Merch/Apparel
Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company

Best Tasting Room Design
Electric Bicycle Brewing

Best Tap Handle Design
Boombox Brewing

Best Label Design – Can
Dageraad Brewing – Murder City

Best Label Design – Bottle
Dageraad Brewing – Antwerpen Tripel

Best Packaging Design
Vancouver Island Brewing – Pod Pack

Best Website Design
Brewhall Beer Co.

Best Social Media Presence
Backcountry Brewing

Rookie of the Year
Île Sauvage Brewing Company

People’s Choice
Brewhall — Azedo tropical sour

Brewers Challenge
Four Winds — Cherry Operis

Innovator of the Year
Twin Sails Brewing

Legend Awards
John Rowling & Gerry Hieter
Nancy More
Gerry Erith
Best in Show
Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks – Pixel Pils

The British Columbia Beer Awards
The British Columbia Beer Awards (BCBA) is Western Canada’s biggest and most prestigious craft beer celebration, held every October in Vancouver since 2010 and drawing over 1,500 entries from more than 130 breweries across the province in 2025. This isn’t just another competition—it’s where BC’s legendary hazy IPAs, barrel-aged sours, West Coast lagers, pastry stouts, and experimental wild ales go head-to-head across 30+ categories, judged blind by BJCP-certified pros and industry legends. Winning a BCBA medal (especially the coveted Best of Show or Brewery of the Year) is a golden ticket that sends beers flying off shelves and puts small-town breweries like Dageraad, Superflux, Twin Sails, Four Winds, and Steamworks in the national spotlight. The festival day wraps with a massive public tasting event at the Croatian Cultural Centre—think 100+ breweries pouring unlimited samples, live music, food trucks, and thousands of hopheads toasting BC’s world-class beer scene. If you’re planning a Vancouver beer trip, mark your calendar for mid-October; tickets sell out fast and it’s the single best day to drink your way through British Columbia’s finest in one spot. Sláinte from the Left Coast!

Fun Beer Facts, Breweries and More: Click Here

Every year on the first Friday of October, we celebrate National Body Language Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the silent yet powerful ways we communicate without words. In 2025, this special day falls on October 3, and it’s the perfect opportunity to dive into the fascinating world of nonverbal cues, from a confident handshake to a subtle eyebrow raise. Whether you’re a people-watcher, a professional looking to boost your communication skills, or just curious about what your crossed arms might be saying, this day is for you!

What Is National Body Language Day?
National Body Language Day was created to raise awareness about the importance of nonverbal communication in our daily lives. Founded by body language expert Blanca Cobb, this annual celebration highlights how gestures, facial expressions, posture, and eye contact shape our interactions. It’s a day to learn, observe, and maybe even laugh at the quirky ways we “talk” without saying a word.

Did you know that studies suggest up to 93% of communication is nonverbal? That’s right—your words might only be a small piece of the puzzle. Tone of voice, body posture, and facial expressions often speak louder than what you say. National Body Language Day encourages us to become more mindful of these cues and use them to connect more effectively.

Why Body Language Matters
Body language is like a secret superpower. It can help you:

• Build stronger relationships: A warm smile or open posture can make others feel comfortable and valued.

• Boost your confidence: Standing tall with shoulders back can make you feel more powerful and assertive.

• Ace professional settings: From job interviews to presentations, mastering nonverbal cues can set you apart.

• Understand others better: Reading body language can help you pick up on unspoken emotions or intentions.

On National Body Language Day, take a moment to reflect on how your nonverbal signals impact those around you. Are you sending the right message?

Fun Ways to Celebrate National Body Language Day
Ready to get in on the fun? Here are some engaging ways to celebrate this unique day:

1. Play a Body Language Game
   Gather friends or family and try to communicate a message using only gestures—no words allowed! It’s like charades but with a focus on everyday nonverbal cues. You’ll be amazed at how much you can “say” without speaking.

2. Observe and Learn
   Spend the day people-watching (respectfully, of course!). Notice how strangers use body language in conversations. Are they leaning in, mirroring each other, or maybe avoiding eye contact? Jot down your observations and see what patterns emerge.

3. Practice Power Poses
   Channel your inner superhero with a power pose! Research by social psychologist Amy Cuddy suggests that standing in a confident pose (think hands on hips, chest out) for just two minutes can boost your confidence. Try it before a big meeting or just for fun!

4. Read Up on Nonverbal Cues
   Pick up a book or watch a video by body language experts like Blanca Cobb or Joe Navarro. Learn how to decode crossed arms, fidgeting, or a quick smile. Bonus: You’ll feel like a detective in no time!

5. Share on Social Media
   Spread the word about National Body Language Day using hashtags like #NationalBodyLanguageDay or #NonverbalCommunication. Share a fun fact or a photo of yourself striking a confident pose. Bonus points for a caption like, “My body language says I’m ready to celebrate! 💪”

Top Body Language Tips to Try Today
Want to up your nonverbal game? Here are some quick tips to practice on National Body Language Day:

• Make Eye Contact: It shows confidence and interest, but don’t overdo it—staring can feel intense!

• Smile Genuinely: A real smile (one that crinkles your eyes) makes you approachable and trustworthy.

• Mirror Mindfully: Subtly mimicking someone’s posture or gestures can build rapport, but keep it natural.

• Watch Your Posture: Stand or sit up straight to project confidence and engagement.

• Be Aware of Personal Space: Respect others’ boundaries to make them feel comfortable.

Fun Facts About Body Language

• It’s Universal (Sort Of): While some gestures, like smiling, are universal signs of happiness, others can vary by culture. For example, a thumbs-up is positive in many places but offensive in others.

• Animals Use It Too: From a dog’s wagging tail to a cat’s arched back, animals rely heavily on body language to communicate.

• It’s Hard to Fake: Your true emotions often leak through subtle cues, like a fleeting microexpression, even if you’re trying to hide them.

Wrap-Up: Let’s Talk Without Talking!
National Body Language Day is more than just a quirky holiday—it’s a chance to tune into the unspoken conversations happening all around us. On October 3, 2025, take a moment to celebrate the power of a nod, a wink, or a confident stance. Whether you’re decoding a friend’s crossed arms or practicing your own power pose, you’ll discover how much you can say without saying a word.

So, strike a pose, share a smile, and let’s celebrate the art of nonverbal communication! How will you mark National Body Language Day? Let us know in the comments or on social media with #NationalBodyLanguageDay!

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