The Problem with American Craft

We really don't have that problem in SE PA.

We have or have access to multiple small to medium sized breweries that produce a lots of nice beers in a reasonable variety of non-hoppy styles.

Doesn't mean there are no breweries here that fit your description/stereotype, but they tend not to survive more than a few years because the customers understand that it takes more than just lots of hops in a kettle to make a good beer.

 

Alabama is young in the craft game. If you've explored everything Alabama has to offer, just wait. Things change, brewers progress and make new styles.

I don't agree with your statements. "American Craft Style" is WAY WAY more than just hoppy beers. You just haven't experienced it yet

 

I didn't say there wasn't at least one. I said its not the norm. There are lots of interesting beers around here that don't fit your description in the OP.

 

I don't think there is a problem with American Craft.

 

There are so many wonderfully different beers being made in the U.S. today that the hop forward category is just one of them. Seek out the others, they are all there to be tasted and enjoyed.

 

when is beer "necessary"

 

The problem is too many mediocre breweries.

 

Also, if you are propsing that we need to be more "european" in our craft, take a look. Most european craft markets are aiming to lean more towards the american hop theme in their pale beers.

 

Many (if not most) small breweries I visit have a variety of beers on tap. there are plenty of approachable amber ales, pale ales, kolsch, dry stouts, porters, etc... that are not extreme in any way. Most of these are only distributed near the breweries and usually on draft only.

 

There will always be artists/craftsmen/brewers who are better than others. Find what you like. Let the market sort itself out.

I have yet to have one of these "unnecessary" beers of which you speak.

 

For a lot of "craft" brewers, their main emphasis seems to be finding new, more intense, and "better" flavors than on actually perfecting their craft.

 

I think there are major problems.

Too much of it is mediocre.
Too much of it is just overwhelming added flavors to cover an underlying mediocre beer.
Too much of it is far too gimmicky.

 

And from the consumer side, I think there's too much support for the mediocre places, especially if they've been around for a few years and seem to lack potential.

Too much support for some places just because it is local.
Too much support from people who just try it once to tick it.

I am really, really looking forward to a shake out in craft beer where the mediocre ones go away. I wish more people would "drink best", drink what they think tastes the best, rather than choosing to support something for other reasons.