When will National Boilermaker Day be celebrated? November 10th of each calendar year.
What is National Boilermaker Day? A day to celebrate the union of drinking a beer and whisk(e)y together. A working-class ritual that has dated back over 100 years in the US and UK.
The drink originated in Butte, Montana, in the 1890s, and was originally called a “Sean O’Farrell” and was served only when miners ended their shifts. When the beer is served as a chaser, the drink is often called simply a shot and a beer.
In Britain, the term “boilermaker” traditionally refers to a half pint of draught mild mixed with a half pint of bottled brown ale, although it also refers to the American shot and pint. In Scotland, “a half and a half” is a half pint of beer with a whisky (“a wee hawf”). The use of these terms in Scottish and English pubs can be traced back to about 1920
How should National Boilermaker Day be celebrated or observed? There will be a dedicated website for suggested pairings and social media pages to highlight. Alongside this, there will be tasting events advertised in bars and online tastings.
Why was National Boilermaker Day created? To give a platform for whisk(e)y and beer brands to celebrate something which has been part of the social fabric for generations. A chance to join people from across the globe with online tasting events with head distillers and brewers. Then more locally creating events in bars and restaurants, giving a much-needed boost to the hospitality sector after a trying time through the pandemic.
Who created this day? This day was created by Calum Lawrie in 2022.