Today two things conspired to make me think about the upcoming Independence Day holiday. First, today is the anniversary of an interesting event that took place in a Philadelphia bar that perhaps made America in its present form possible. If had not been for the the social lubricant of ale and the camaraderie that can only be formed over a pint, compromise might not have been possible and things today might be very different. Who can say for sure? Beer historian Gregg Smith tells it best:

The great diarist of the Constitutional Convention was James Madison of Virginia. His choice of quarters was the India Queen Tavern where there was always a beer at the ready, and it was in the tap room of the India Queen that a new form of government would be created on the evening of June 30, 1787. Up till then smaller states worried they’d be at the mercy of their more populous neighbors, and of course larger states were intent on maintaining their influence. But on that night Madison orchestrated a meeting between Roger Sherman of Connecticut and John Rutledge of Virginia. It was there, in the tap room, that the concept of the legislative branch of the United States was conceived. So it’s not incorrect to say that the Senate and House of Representatives were born in an ale-house.

Note to neo-prohibtionists: See, not all drinking is bad. You might not have a country in which to peddle your fractious agenda were it not for beer.

The second thing was the new advert from Anhesuer-Busch’s Here’s to Beer cmpaign, which is slated to run as a full-page ad in USA Today on July 4th. I have, of course, said a few less-than-flattering things about this campaign but I do like this ad. It’s very well done and works on several levels. It conveys the very important message that beer is, in fact, an integral part of history and our own heritage. This is a lesson we all need to remember and those who seek to remove alcohol from society most of all. Remember that as you toast America’s birthday on the Fourth with a glass of your favorite beer. Here’s to beer!