How Important Is Local/Micro?

Saying "aside from the obvious difference in quality" is overlooking the single most important factor, imo. Quality is pretty much all that matters to me.

 

"Fight the power" isn't as important to me as some of the other benefits I associate with local: lower carbon footprint, supporting local businesses, maybe cheaper, usually fresher.

The big guys produce a very high quality (from a consistency standpoint) beer for less money. If they do that to the little guys they swallow up, I'm ok with it. To a point. Not a fan of bullying little guys and consolidation of power, but it doesn't affect my purchases very much. The great thing about beer in US today is the diversity.

 

I like to support my local breweries, though as part of my beer education I am also exploring beers from elsewhere.

I also like to support small breweries, though the larger breweries that pioneered craft, such as Sierra Nevada, BBC, and New Belgium earn my patronage.

I do not boycott big beer, and will at least try their offerings, though I prefer to support others.

 

I support local because it helps maintain jobs in my community. It also keeps fresh beer on the shelves.

That said, I don't have a problem with buying a New Belgium, Sierra Nevada, etc.. If it's good beer, and I haven't had it, I want to try it. There are few beers I return to for a second 6 pack, and whether it is local or not is not a deciding factor.

 

It's not.

 

I've never chosen to make something I enjoy, which is mostly hobby, into a political stance or protest. I like beer, and I especially enjoy tasty beer of pretty much any origin.

Don't get me started on the injustice of the franchise tag in the NFL though.

 

It's important to me to have a local that brews good solid beers. The one local in Casper. ..the brewer left and now another is stepping in to take up the gauntlet. I wish him well so that I can continue to support the local. Time will tell.

 

I drink whatever I'd like regardless of where it comes from. Michigan just so happens to have some amazing beers so I guess it works out

 

Baltimore Breweries are stepping their game up. In which, I'd gladly spend money on them. Yet, I'll also buy mass Distro Shelfies from other states the same as well. It's all about the Quality.

 

Local is only good for the first try. After that it better be good quality to continue to support it, otherwise I'll move on to the next local brewery. So yes.

However it is easy to support local when you are surrounded by a lot of choices

 

Besides loving beer, I collect the bottles (or cans etc), I prefer to drink the beer myself before it goes into the collection, this means I occasionally buy beer I'm not a fan of, whether that be a BMC offering, or flavor wise. Other than that I buy beer if it sounds tasty, and if it is I'll probably buy it again, local beers are in this also though I make an attempt (mostly financialy bound) to try every beer offered by Maine breweries. But if I drank every beer Oxbow produced I'd go broke, they have produced something like 100 different varieties since 2011. So if a local brewery makes good beer (like Maine Beer Company, Allagash, Sebago, and Baxter) I buy it quite frequently.

... Speaking of MBC I do believe it's time to have Another One...

 

It really means nothing to me

 

Doesn't mean much to me personally, it's the quality of beer rather than how close they are to me. If both can be managed, bonus.

 

I ultimately drink what I like, but I like to support the local guys. Luckily for me I have a few highly regarded breweries within an hour of me that makes supporting local a hell of a lot easier.

 

I absolutely believe that it's important to support local craft/micro breweries for a number of reasons. They are a source of employment, whether for a small guy going it on his own, a brew pub entrepreneur trying to carve out a niche in the local economy or a regional craft brewer trying to build their brand and expand their regional reach. For many people a local micro or craft brewer may be the first chance for them to try different brews and break free from the fizzy yellow water doldrums. A local brewer can also be a drawing card for other local businesses that stock and serve their product. As popularity for craft beer grows, a local can help revitalize the area economy, make it a destination (think brewery tours, tasting rooms, beer fest promotion) instead of a place to pass thru on the way to somewhere else. I'm lucky enough to live in an area with a number of local breweries, brew pubs and establishments that carry local and regional (as well as nationally known craft and mainstream) beers and enjoy the many options available to me.

 

I would love to support local breweries.There is one within 30 minutes of my location and another within 2 hours. I've visited the first several times but they only brew three/four beers that are average. The other is about two hours from here and they brew several styles and the beer is good, just not good enough to justify the drive on a regular basis.

 

I think it's important to support local craft breweries for a number of reasons. I happening to be very lucky to live near (within an hour or so) so many top flight breweries. Fiddlehead, Burlington Beer Co, Foley Brothers, Zero Gravity, Lost Nation, Rock Art, Frost Beer Works and Hill Farmstead are all within reach for me. That's not to say I won't drink beers from bigger breweries but much of the time I am drinking local, fresh, good beer. Tough living in Vermont...lol

 

I buy about 80% local, and as local for me means New Belgium, Odell, Funkwerks, Great Divide, Upslope, Left Hand, and Oskar Blues that isn't any hardship at all!

 

I support local if the beer is good and not overpriced.

Next question.