International Beer and Pizza Day Date in the current year: October 9, 2024

Both beer and pizza have been around for many, many years. Beer is one of the oldest alcoholic drinks known to humanity; there is archaeological evidence of beer being brewed 13,000 years ago, and the first written records of brewing are dated to 4,000 BC. The first record of the term “pizza” dates back to the 10th century, but foods similar to pizza (flat bread with toppings) were known during the Neolithic Age.

It is unclear who was the first to pair beer with pizza (most likely, quite a few people came up with this idea independently from one another), but this food and drink pairing is considered iconic in many parts of the world. It is so popular that some people even celebrate International Beer and Pizza Day on October 9.

International Beer and Pizza Day was created in 2016 by Nick Saulino, a web developer, pizza connoisseur, and beer lover from New York. He loves beer and pizza so much that he has a blog dedicated to this iconic combo, Pints & Slices. Launching a holiday dedicated to beer and pizza seemed like the next logical step in sharing his love with the world and paying homage to one of the world’s most iconic food and drink combinations.

Both pizza and beer come in countless varieties, so the number of their possible combinations is probably close to infinite (infinite diversity in infinite combinations, as a Vulcan from Star Trek would probably say). Beer and Pizza Day is the perfect occasion to explore as many combinations as you can.

Some people think that any kind of beer can go with any kind of pizza. Technically, they’re right; pizza always tastes great with beer. However, certain styles of beer can highlight certain flavors in pizza, which will make the whole experience so much more satisfying.

For example, veggie or cheese pizzas pair well with light beers, such as pilsners, blond ales, or pale ales, while meaty and mushroom pizzas taste better with dark beers like porters and stouts. Hawaiian pizza, which combines the tartness of pineapples with savory ham or Canadian bacon, pairs great with fruity beers, and seafood pizza goes well with citrusy beers like pale ales and wheat beers with a hint of citrus.

To celebrate International Beer and Pizza Day, many places that serve pizza and beer offer discounts and promotions. Make the most of these offers, enjoy the delicious combination of pizza and beer, and don’t forget to spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtags #BeerAndPizzaDay and #InternationalBeerAndPizzaDay.

If you’re not in the mood for going out, you can pick up some beer at your local brewery or supermarket, order several pizzas, and enjoy a quiet (or not very quiet) evening at home with your family and friends. Another option is making homemade pizza from scratch (or using frozen pizza dough to make things easier) and enjoying it with beer.