Whether reporting on international beer mergers or just gently poking fun at American-style light lagers, it’s clear that Kai Ryssdal, host of public radio program Marketplace, possesses a passion for beer.
Los Angeles is emerging from the shadows of its better beer neighbors to tell its own story. And like the city itself, that story is diverse, progressive and undeniably cool.
Buyouts and ownership restructurings in 2014 and 2015 have removed some of the bigger players—and their bigger production numbers—from the “craft market share” calculation publicized by the Brewers Association.
The shift to seeing a bottle of Lagunitas Pils in a John Mayer music video or Woody Allen movie (both of which have recently happened) is as organic a move as the industry’s growth itself.
Trader Joe’s house brand changes breweries, branding; Mikkeller and Three Floyds to open Copenhagen brewpub; researchers creating genetic family tree for brewing yeast; and The Bruery to open a facility for wild-fermented ales.
The constellation of bars, gastropubs, taphouses and brewpubs that dot LA’s diverse neighborhoods is dedicated to making LA a premier craft beer city. Los Angeles already has the weather and the landscape, and now it increasingly has the perfect brews to pair with the picturesque environment.
From the initial stages of business planning onward, brewery owners are forced to make difficult decisions that affect the direction of their business. Successfully navigating these choices relies upon having a clearly defined vision and strategy.
No one knows what lies ahead—but if these intrepid small-business owners are any indication, craft beer will be just fine. Here are just a few of the stories that made 2011 one of the best years for craft beer in the country’s history.
