As craft brewers push to distinguish themselves from Big Beer, revenue from higher-priced premium beers is increasing faster than any other craft segment. Will that make the $8 six-pack a thing of the past?
A look at the beer industry post-2015, the year that Big Beer acquired successful craft breweries left and right and infused mind-boggling amounts of money into the business. Their plan? Buy more shelf space.
American brewers win at European awards; wild hop variety makes commercial beer debut; SweetWater to build West Coast brewery; Wynkoop revives Beer Drinker of the Year awards; Bill Siebel passes away at 69; and Constellation Brands to acquire Ballast Point.
At Birch & Barley in Washington DC, chef Kyle Bailey blends the decadent flavors of house-cured foie gras with seasonal fruits from local farms and peppery greens grown in the restaurant’s rooftop garden.
Distilling isn’t a huge leap from brewing. Today, out of the roughly 235 craft distilleries in America, 18 are operated by craft breweries, and that number is expected to rise as these once-mutually exclusive industries slowly recognize just how much they have in common.
The lucky winner of Stone’s March Madness Homebrew Competition and AHA Rally gets moved out of the dinky kitchen and into Stone’s gleaming steel system of steamy goodness. Topping it off, the brew becomes Stone’s official GABF ProAm entry.
