The Problem with American Craft

A better title would have been "A disturbing trend in the American Craft Brew industry"

 

So that's why I see so many brewers whose favorite style is a kolsch or a pilsner.

 

Ha Ha it does.

 

The best part is that we have much better choices than we did years ago.

 

France? Sorry, but the rails seem to be leading into the weeds. American craft beer is the healthiest it has ever been. There may be some inferior beers being produced, just stay away. The French sailed in at Yorktown after the brutal campaign that Cornwallis and crew had suffered at Guilford Courthouse. Their timing was instrumental in securing American independence as the British limped back to the coast. The French have long been great allies. French bashing is mindless.

 

Have you read all of the posts to this thread? Some folks would suggest that "much better choices" is not necessarily a good thing.

Cheers!

 

I feel the same way recently. More on the note that breweries are making bitter/ hop forward ales with little flavor. Individuals who call themselves hop heads please chime in, what characteristics are you looking for in pales & IPAs? Fresh Squeeze is currently my favorite IPA because it's soooo different from the usual: "Hey, my beer is hoppy! Drink this!"

 

Yeah, I think you were right in that it must be an regional thing. I live in North Carolina and have no problems whatsoever finding world class brews. You just have to know what you are looking for and know where to find it.

Not that you were expressing this view, but speaking of arguments earlier in this thread......I definitely don't agree with the argument that the market will become so saturated that "better" brewers will have problems selling their beer.

 

While I agree to an extent, the high quality craft breweries don't do this. There are plenty of breweries out there with amazingly balanced and flavorful beers. Not to mention non hop forward beers

 

I agree with the sentiment of the original post, but we all have the power to combat this with our purchases. Buy the beers you think are great, and not the others. In time, consumers will win out. The best will survive and the rest will fall off. Great Lakes, Founders, and Stone are examples of breweries that (IMO) do great work outside of the hop spectrum. As far as local, I buy a lot of local beer as long as it is fresh, good, and reasonably priced. I have my favorites...

 

There was just a big announcement about "craft" brewers being active in pay-to-play schemes to get their beers sold since the desire for variety and the latest new thing has made tap and shelf space so rare.

 

I think we should take it to the UN. Only then will I be satisfied. They'll surely get it right. No arguments here and I sorta knew you were kidding. Honestly, a touch of history need not be spared, sir. I need to work on my historical emoticons, maybe a George Washington head winking with a wry grin.

 

How does the wine industry work? Just wondering. Do they have similar problems? Seems like a pretty similar industry.