If you’re planning to observe Dry January and abstain from alcohol for an entire month, bravo.
Your quest is admirable. Assessing your relationship with booze from time to time is important.
In its modern form, Dry January started as a health-minded challenge in the United Kingdom in 2013. It has since spread across the globe, capturing the imagination of millions of drinking-age adults.
So many people are doing it now that ABZ feels compelled to make this plea:
Fellow beer lovers, please don’t let North Coast breweries suffer.
January is traditionally a difficult month for breweries, especially smaller ones. With beer sales nationwide dipping and closures happening more frequently, it’s not a good time to stay away from your neighborhood brewpub, aka public house.
Even if you’re not there to drink alcohol, you can show support in other ways:
- Try non-alcoholic options that may be on the taplist, sparkling hop water and mocktails included.
- Check out an N/A beer for the first time. (They’re getting pretty good).
- Buy merch or a gift card.
- Attend a taproom-sponsored event.
- Bring a board game and invite some friends.
- Have a meal or snack.
Celebrate Oregon Beer, a new nonprofit that promotes breweries and hop farms, is leading a campaign called Pub January that underscores how important it is to support brewpubs and taprooms during a lean winter month.
Led by Portland-based beer writer Jeff Alworth, Pub January encourages people to continue to enjoy beer joints and other watering holes – whether they’re drinking or not.
“Breweries are fun places to gather, and they would love a little more support next month,” he said.
Alworth, author of The Beer Bible, first pitched the notion of Pub January in a post on his Beervana blog a year ago. The response was “really positive,” he said.
He’s now following up with Celebrate Oregon Beer, which is promoting the idea through its newsletter and on social media.
“January is so brutal for breweries,” Alworth said. “It’s the worst month overall for beer sales.”
He offers another reason for visiting a brewery next month: human interaction.
Getting out of the house and avoiding isolation in the dark days after the holidays is vital, he argues.
“It’s really important to our well-being,” he said.
Chris Nemlowill, owner of Fort George Brewery in Astoria, said he respects people who “need some time off” from drinking.
He suggests a “Dampish January,” balancing beer with something N/A, like Fort George’s LüP hop water.
“Maybe have a beer and then a hop water,” he said.
The important thing is to keep showing support for the places you love, whether you’re there to drink or not.
Cheers!
