Kalamazoo Times

Michigan recently celebrated the unofficial start to spring on March 21 by proclaiming it as Oberon Day, a beer company that has been in operations for 30 years.

“Michigan is home to some of the best breweries, microbreweries, and brewpubs in the world,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a news release by the governor’s office. “As we welcome warmer weather, I want to raise a cold glass of our beloved Oberon to my fellow Michiganders who are looking forward to a Pure Michigan summer full of time with family and friends. Let us kick off our unofficial start to the better weather season by celebrating the craft beer industry for creating jobs, building a sense of community and supporting small business owners throughout the state.”

The governor’s office reported that the state's oldest craft brewery is Bell's Brewery, which spearheaded the flourishing of the state’s craft industry.

According to the Michigan Brewers Guild, the state ranks sixth in the nation for breweries with roughly 400 and accounts for 1,924 brewing jobs and economic impact of $9.9 billion as of 2020.

The news release states that residents of the state began rejoicing the release of Oberon every spring in 1992, which facilitated the state's brewery economy.

One of the most recognized craft beers in the state, Oberon is an American Wheat Ale, that Michiganders drank 14,076,074 pints of in 2021, according to the governor’s office.  

“While March 20th is technically the first day of spring, us Michiganders know that it’s not really springtime until you’re enjoying the first Oberon of the season! Happy Oberon Day!” Gov. Whitmer wrote in a tweet.