Photo by Joseph Leonardo

The recent bombarding of food products getting their own day has been pretty ridiculous. Cupcakes, chili dogs watermelon — all have their days. So what is the next consumable to have its own day? Craft beer!

Today is International #IPAday, celebrating a “grassroots movement created to unite the voices of craft beer enthusiasts, bloggers, and brewers worldwide, using social media as the common arena for connecting the conversation together.”

The Founders Brewing Co. website states that “#IPADay is not the brainchild of a corporate marketing machine, nor is it meant to serve any particular beer brand. #IPADay is an opportunity for breweries, bloggers, businesses, and consumers to connect and share their love of craft beer. Getting involved is easy; the only requirements are an appreciation for great beer and the will to spread the word. Anyone can participate by enjoying IPA with friends, making some noise online with the #IPADay hashtag, and showing the world that craft beer is more than a trend!”

Many might find the whole idea a bit trite and pointless, seeing as how the India Pale Ale is one of, if not the most celebrated, beer in the American Craft movement. I can’t help but love the fact that a number of bars in the area are bringing in some fantastic IPAs to celebrate the day. While we did borrow the style from the British, it has become a very American interpretation that represents innovation and creativity. Subtle to brash, the easily describable yet continually changing India Pale Ale is a staple at every beer bar across the nation and is even being recreated in the American style back in the U.K.

So instead of dwelling on the lameness of necessitating a day to give some Twitter back-patting, let’s focus on some of the great beers that are going to be available for this festive occasion:

>> M Street Bar & Grill will have Heavy Seas Loose Cannon and Port City Monumental IPA for $5 on IPA Day, paired with some special spicy appetizers for $5.

>> Big Hunt is featuring: Oliver Ales Draft Punk, Evolution Lot 3 & 6, and Founders Brewing Centennial, Red’s Rye & Devil Dancer, Port City Monumental, Heavy Seas Loose Cannon, Bells Two-Hearted, Bear Republic Racer 5 and Apex, Victory Beer Hop Devil and Hop Wallop, and Flying Dog Raging Bitch.

>> Black Squirrel will have 15 IPAs on draft including Ska Brewing Modus Hoperendi and Ballast Point Big Eye IPA. Both of these aren’t available in DC so make sure to get them while they last.

>> Molly Malone’s will also have 15 IPAs on draft. For those who want more options, that still leaves 30 taps that aren’t IPAs.

>> Mad Fox Brewing has three IPAs on: their Orange Whip & Broad Street. Guest IPA is Tupper’s India Ink Black IPA on cask.

So get yourself a pint of the beer that has single-handedly revamped American brewing and put our country back on the beer making map. Print out a few of these when when your boss isn’t looking and bring them to your favorite post-work oasis. Just remember to disregard some of the history aspects on there, as most of them are myths that won’t go away.