Craft Beer Sales UP Again!!

[chazwicke]

Got this from DC-Beer:

Just came in from the Brewers Association-
Craft Beer grew by a record growth of 11.7% in 2006.
The fastest growing adult beverage continues it's amazing pace!

A news release can be viewed at: http://www.beertown.org/pr/2006_stats.pdf

The revolution is in full swing!

[IceAce]

It's also worth noting the Brewers Association's new definition of Craft Beer:


"An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional. Craft beer comes only from a craft brewer. Small = annual production of beer less than 2 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition. Independent = Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer. Traditional = A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands)"


This leaves folks like Widmer, Redhook, Goose Island, and Leinenkugel's on the outside looking in...

[steveh]

Yeah, we went on a long discussion rant about this before. Not sure why some of them ought to suffer just because of size -- good beer is good beer.

S.

[Insidious Rex]

So what are the positives and negatives of this continuing trend? What happens if this continues for another ten years? More good beer? More consolidation? Both? Will we ever reach that threshold like wine where variety is the rule and the expectation, and public consciousness is not ruled by three or four giant brewers?

[steveh]

Originally posted by Insidious Rex
Will we ever reach that threshold like wine where variety is the rule and the expectation

Variety in what? Brands and labels? That's really all wine has, the number of wine styles pale in comparison to the many styles of beers out there.

I'd like to see more readily available knowledge to the consumer that beer is more than a fizzy yellow drink you see being consumed by old men in the corner tavern -- or college boys out for a rowdy buzz.

Better appreciation of flavor, complexity, and craft -- everything that the consumer thinks about when they think about good wine.

But yeah, bottom line: more good beer.

S.