Being a beer fan means a lot of things, but to most, it means that you are the kind of person who demands only the finest when it comes to this ancient elixir. It’s this fascination with beer that has made the up-and-comer craft beer such a popularity monster in the last couple of decades or so. Craft beer is often thought of as the essence of beer brewing done right, and for any true fan of beer, indulging in craft offerings means you’re walking the walk and talking the talk.
However, not everyone is a fan of craft beer.
For some, craft beer brewers are sometimes pilfering old, forgotten recipes and claiming them as their own. For others, the odd variety and complexity of these beers makes them an anomaly that deserves no real consideration. In the end, though, it really comes down to folks just being a fan of brands of beer they have been familiar with for years.
As it turns out, though, these naysayers have fallen into a minority as the majority of beer lovers are really becoming quite enamored with the beer revolution that has swept this country. Part of this sweeping change has come from the foodie movement. People have started demanding more from the things they eat and drink, and chefs have demanded greater quality in their products. As such, simple, well-made products “straight from the ground” (farm to table) have become king, and beer brewing has ridden the wave.
So, why is craft beer so popular? It may be because of:
Deep Flavor — Even though there are a number of brewing styles, one quality that they all share is a deep flavor that you can’t find with other bigger brewers trying their hand in a chosen brewing style. People want to enjoy what they drink, not just down it in large quantities.
Seasonal Treats — No matter the holiday or what the calendar says, craft beer brewers are all about making beer that highlights the flavors of the season, as well as works with ingredients that are in season. Sure, it means limited runs, but they turn out to be something else.
Experimentation — We’ve come to love consistency in our beer, but when you taste something truly unique…WOW! Smaller brewers want to get that ‘wow’ factor into all of their beer, and they’re willing to try some crazy things to make it happen.
Requests for Feedback — Big-box beers do what they do & they’re good with that. Craft beer brewers want your input. What did/didn’t you like? Did we miss anything? What about the packaging? This personal contact goes a long way.
Support of Small Business — Everyone wants the little guy to do well, and craft beer brewers are the little guy. Sure, their marketshare and numbers have grown almost exponentially, but it still doesn’t mean that they’re not always trying to compete against Big Beer.
Craft beer has seen its popularity, and profitability, increase over the last twenty years due to greater demand of quality libations from beer fans. No longer is the status quo acceptable, and while some of the big-box brands struggle to keep up, smaller brewers are up for the challenge of giving the beer-loving public the kind of brew they’ve only dreamt about.