March 21, 2022: Oberon Day

WHEREAS, Michiganders have been celebrating the release of Oberon every spring since 1992; and,

 

WHEREAS, Oberon Ale is recognized by beer drinkers all over Michigan as the first sign of summer; and,

 

WHEREAS, Oberon, an American Wheat Ale, is one of the most recognizable craft beers in Michigan; and,

 

WHEREAS, Michigan is sixth in the country for number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs and Oberon Ale was the first craft beer for many Michigan beer drinkers; and,

 

WHEREAS, craft beer in Michigan has contributed nearly $1 billion and nearly 10,000 jobs to the economy as of 2016; and,

 

WHEREAS, Bell's Brewery, Michigan's oldest continuously operating craft brewery, is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Oberon Ale, which helped pave the way for Michigan's craft beer boom; and,

 

WHEREAS, Bell's was one of the state's three craft breweries in 1993, which has grown to more than 330; and,

 

WHEREAS, Bell's has created 423 jobs in Michigan and 90 more across the country, making Bell's Brewery a standout Michigan company; and,

 

WHEREAS, Oberon Ale is enjoyed at baseball games, near our fresh water and at local establishments; and,

 

WHEREAS, the State of Michigan enjoyed 14,067,074 pints of Oberon Ale in 2021; and,

 

WHEREAS, the release of Oberon Ale stimulates our hospitality licensed beverage economy every spring when released; and,

 

WHEREAS, the release of Oberon is a unique Michigan celebration across the entire state;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim the third Monday of March, March 21, 2022, as Oberon Day to celebrate entrepreneurship, the coming of summer and the great craft beer industry in Michigan.