The story of beer in the United States is as frothy and robust as a freshly poured pint itself. It began with the early European settlers, who brought their brewing traditions to the New World. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the English, Dutch, and Germans planted the seeds of America's beer culture, using local ingredients like maize and pumpkins to create their own unique brews. The Pilgrims even had beer on the Mayflower, as it was safer to drink than the water at the time!

On a lighter note, this puzzle features beer labels that are simply fun and fictional.

Over the course of our history, Americans have engaged in debates about alcohol and its place in our society. Government programs and policies have ranged from promoting drink-related industries to warning of the health dangers of drinking and driving to outright prohibition of alcohol manufacturing and sales. Few issues have generated such passion among citizens and government officials. Alcohol-related records in the holdings of the National Archives--posters, government-created films, patent drawings, artifacts, and petitions--explore the surprising role of the federal government in regulating, promoting, investigating, and prohibiting alcohol production, sales, and consumption.