The Craft Beer Boom Has Gone Flat

I don't take either organization seriously.

 

Plus, something many folks on here have trouble believing, there are lots of hardcore Bud & Bud light drinkers who are intensely brand loyal because they actually enjoy the beer and see no need to look further.

 

FWIW, I think some are neglecting the significance of this key aspect of your original point. Yes many areas of the country may now be as intensely locavore as Vermont but were they 20-30 years ago?

I'd say not given that 30 years ago our supermarket choices for, say Cheese, consisted of Kraft singles and Cheese Whiz and for breads consisted of Wonder Bread and other forms of "wallpaper paste" white bread.

On my very few trips to Vermont I've observed that local is a much more general and deeply ingrained way of life than in may places in the US and has been since before many Beer Advocates were even born.

 

30 years ago I had just moved from Iowa to Texas, and while the kind of processed foods you mention were common and probably the big sellers, they were not the only choices in supermarkets in either Iowa or Texas. Hy-Vee (IA) and H-E-B (TX) both offered real cheese and in-store bakeries making a variety of breads. Just being a bit pedantic... Your point is still valid.

 

It's a good price for fabulous beer. I buy on taste, not price. Try bourbon if you want pricey. Not uncommon to see 4/16 oz beers for $ 12/14/16/20 a 4 pack.

 

Not a problem at all. For sure it is a fact that in some areas there were actually a few other things available than my exaggeration indicated about what was then available. But, as you note, even those you mention pale in comparison to what many of us can buy these days in the way of locally produced foods.

 

Bingo... You can trace a continuous line in VT's locavore culture back to at least 1970 (not that anyone used the term locavore then), when an influx a very independent-minded hippies moved to VT and formed an odd libertarian-like alliance with the existing independent-leaning farming communities. If you don't believe me check with the old hippy founder of Magic Hat, who was locally known to rarely ever wear shoes...anywhere...even in the dead of VT winter. People are just different there... and I don't think most people, even most Vermonters, can really wrap their heads around what makes Vermont local-focus culture different from other places. People can eye-roll at me... I don't care.

 

Rick Reed claims they stole his recipe for Cricket Hill American Ale. A good case can be made they did taste just about the same.

 

BTW and FYI "locavore" does not seem to have even been around and in use until the 21st Century.

http://www.locavores.com

 

I am confident you already recognize this but...

The hatred for AB runs deep with the hard core beer geek crowd.

Cheers!

 

Glad you have plenty of cash to spend.

Still did not answer the OP question.

Please walk by me if we ever cross paths

Enjoy

 

Really? I haven't had Cricket Hill American Ale, but I'll have to pick some up. I'd be curious to know why Reed thinks AB-I stole the recipe though...AB-I's brewmasters are among the most skilled in the business and should be able to come up with their own formula.

I was actually sad to see Bud American Ale go by the wayside (especially since the draft version was particularly good, and at a very good price point)... I'm not as militantly "anti AB-I" as most hard core beer geeks are, and I can honestly and objectively say that it was probably the only AB-I brew that I genuinely enjoyed. Too bad they didn''t give it more of a chance,

 

Eh. My inclination is with ABInB that we'll see "craft" and "local" become marketing terms vs actual craft and local.

 

I might have worded that to strongly. I'ts doubtfull he believed they stole his recipe. I was buying beer at the brewery and was speaking with Rick. I told him the Budweiser Ale tasted a lot like his ale but that his was better. He said others had told him that and joking added they must have gotten my recipe. It's a nice beer you should try it.

 

What is "actual craft"?

(For that matter, what is local? )

 

I know! I know! (Squire in the third row raising his hand)

Craft means well made and local means I can get it.

 

I'm from New England and am familiar with Vermont and its culture and yet I say unto the both of you:



Cheers

 

I take it that means you don't know.

 

In my opinion this is why you see some restaurant and bar associations fight to let brewpubs expand their hours/offerings. Its a threat to their business model.