250 Years of Beers
January 01, 2026 until December 31, 2026
WHEN
2026 America 250
WHERE
Dacha Shaw and Navy Yard
ABOUT
Before there was a country, there was beer. From colonial taverns to modern taprooms, America’s story has always been poured by the pint.
To commemorate the 250th year of the United States, we're taking a tour of beer through the 50 states. Each month we'll feature a beer from 3-5 states in chronological order of when they entered the union. We'll feature craft breweries from across the country as well as some America's most American beer makers. From revolution to refreshment, learn a little bit about our history with us, and take a journey across time and states.
October
39. North Dakota 1889
Drekker - Percentage of Survival
New England IPA- 7% – $11 Pint | $22 Boot
Beer facts: Drekker opened in Fargo, North Dakota in 2014, and are now the largest brewery in the state. Percentage of Survival is a hazy, New England style IPA, brewed exclusively with experimental hops, which lend a tropical, citrussy flavor profile to this deceptively crushable IPA.
State Facts: When North Dakota entered the union in 1889, it was a completely dry state, banning the manufacture, distribution, and sale of liquor. During Prohibition, North Dakota became on the the major hubs for bootlegging liquor from across the Canadian border.
Hard liquor was only legalized in the state for the first time in 1936.
41. Montana 1889
Montucky – Cold Snacks
American Lager 4.1% – $10 .33 L | $30 Boot
Beer Facts: Montucky was founded in 2012, and Cold Snacks are the only beer they brew. The beer was conceived as an easy-drinking, crisp lager perfect for outdoor adventures. In that spirit, they partner with dozens of local and national organizations supporting youth outdoor and conservation programs.
State Facts: Montana is the top producer and powerhouse of barley growth and malting for breweries. Over one million acres of barley are grown across the state, and much of it is malted there too. Montana’s proximity to the Pacific Northwest, where the majority of American hops are grown, led to that region’s dominance in early craft beer production, creativity, and affordability.
42. Washington 1889
Elysian - Space Dust
Imperial IPA 8.2%– $11 Pint | $22 Boot
Beer Facts: Elysian opened in Seattle, Washington in 1995, and won the GABF Best Large Brewpub in the country 3 times in the early 2000s. They debuted Space Dust in 2012, and it remains one of the best selling IPAs in the United States. This Imperial West Coast IPA features Citra, Chinook, and Amarillo hops grown nearby in the Yakima Valley.
State facts: Washington leads the country in hop production, as its soil and climate are ideal for their cultivation. Hop farms in Washington go back as far as 1865, and today, the state accounts for 75% of all hops grown in the United States. World-famous hop varieties such as Citra, Mosaic, Centennial, and Amarillo were first cultivated in Washington.