Days of the Beer, March 14

The beer for today is Woodchuck Granny Smith Hard Cider (not a beer).

On March 14, 1933; Maurice Joseph Micklewhite was born. Micklewhite took up acting and changed his name to Michael Caine.

Caine is one of only two actors nominated for an Academy Award for acting (either lead or supporting) in every decade from the 1960's to the 2000's (the other is Jack Nicholson). He has been nominated for an Oscar six times, he won the first in 1986 for Hannah and Her Sisters and his second in 1999 for The Cider House Rules, both as a supporting actor.

Additionally, March 14 is the first Pi Day of the year. (The other is July 22 or 22/7).

Pi Day was started in 1989. On Pi Day 2004, Daniel Tammet recited 22,514 decimal digits of Pi. On March 12, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution recognizing March 14, 2009 as National Pi Day.

To celebrate Pi Day, you can eat pie. Or you can hope you get your application decision letter from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, since they mail those for delivery on Pi Day.

As to the beer:

Woodchuck Granny Smith Hard Cider is made by the Woodchuck Cidery in Middlebury, Vermont.

Made from only Granny Smith apples, this one's a lot more tart and quite a bit tangier than your average Woodchuck. If you're a green apple sort of person, this could be your Woodchuck.

The cider comes in about 5% abv.

This cider was chosen because Granny Smith apples are probably the ones you will use for making pie.

So, for Pi day, and the Oscar winner from The Cider House Rules, have a cider that's about as close to pie as you can get.