Pretty cool graph. Obviously this explosion can’t continue, there are only so many taps!
Not to mention that our population has quintupled since 1890? So we still aren’t putting it away like our forefathers.
But it is heartening. I like most of the breweries on the slideshow except Magic Hat. Can’t stand their weirdly flavored beer. Regardless, I wish everyone continued success and increasing profits
People drank way too much in the 19th century. Prohibition was rooted in some serious concerns for society. Average consumption was equivalent to 1.7 bottles of hard liquor a week, about three times as much as we drink today.
I agree about Magic Hat being supremely disappointing. Their “Not quite pale ale” was so fantastically disappointing. It was like a bad imitation of Pyramid’s apricot ale. I believe any beer with fruit extract added to it should clearly state so on the bottle.
The population of the US was about 63 million in 1890. Since there were 2,011 breweries in 1890, that meant there was 1 brewery for every 31,000 people. With todays population being 312 million, each brewery is supporting about 146,000 people. I suppose most of that is supplied by the big 3 though. We still have room to grow even if we don’t party like its 1899. 
I used to be a fan of Magic Hat a long time ago, but it seems like their quality has gone down. I know they were bought not that long ago, but IMO the quality wasn’t that good before they were bought. Didn’t they buy Pyramid or are owned by the same owner? They did brew a colaboration beer, a Gose, for the Vermont Beer fest with Trapps lodge that was really good.
I have to say I’m surprised to see Magic Hat so far up on the list.
I like their beer a couple years ago when I first came across it. Maybe just because it was different, I don’t know. The last six-pack I had was pretty rough, though. There’s a bottle or two left somewhere in the basement.
Bell’s, on the other hand, does not last in my house. Maybe my favorite brewery.
I would have liked to taste that. Trapp Family Lodge is doing some really nice traditional german beers with local ingredients. amazing place to sit on the deck and drink a beer to, overlooking the mad river valley.
Just got a six pack of Bell’s Two Hearted the other day and while it is not horrible I don’t really enjoy it. I haven’t enjoyed a Two Hearted in a while. Seems like the quality has slipped there. Either that or they are expanding too far out from their local and the freshness is biting them in the ass.
I tend to go for their Third Coast Old Ale, Expedition Stout, and pretty much any stout they make. Hoppy beers are not my thing. It may be that expansion is straining them, however.
I remember going there as a kid to go skiiing and it really was amazing. Last year at the brewers fest they had a “Session Rauchbier” that I thought was really good. They werent going to bring it, but changed their minds and I’m glad they did. Would love to go there now.
Either they will run out of places to put sell the product, or run out of raw materials.
I’ve noticed that if I grab a sixer that was bottled more than a couple months ago, it’s not as good as it should be. On tap at the eccentric cafe, it’s awesome. Check the bottle date and see how old it is.
I don’t know, there are a LOT of BMC taps out there.
So… It was good?
They said the same thing about the wine industry and its still growing. If they could fix the distribution network/3 tier system, we would see a lot more market share going to real beer vs the questionably flavored water BMC makes. I say that with a forked tongue though, slower growth for the craft industry is probably the best thing. It ensures quality over quantity which is how craft beer got where it is today.
Craft beer requires a specific economic ecology to thrive. In CO a combination of self-distribution laws and huge numbers of independent liquor stores allowed craft beer to blow up. A large part of that was because most grocery stores aren’t allowed to sell any beer over 3.2% beer, and no liquor or wine. In Missouri, any kind of retail establishment can sell any beer or liquor of any strength. There are hardly any independent liquor stores, and there are only a handful of breweries here.
So it’s not just the 3 tier system that’s keeping craft beer down. This is a good example of the difference between “pro-business” and “pro-market” regulation. What’s good for a specific business (3-tier for BMC and limited liquor sales for breweries in CO) may be bad for consumers (fewer choices, less variety in MO, fewer places to buy liquor in CO). Craft beer has thrived in CO because of strict liquor retail regulations, and craft beer is anemic in MO because of overly lax retail regulations.
Nateo when you state “retail establishments” do you mean restaurants and bars?
I’m sure the Anheuser-Busch Co. were allowed to pen in the legislation themselves and passed without protest…
I agree with you, but I do think fixing the 3 tier system would probably have the largest effect on Craft Beer as a whole. Its pretty corrupt frankly. (state law will always be a separate battle) the BMC’s, as much as they aren’t supposed to, give incentives for tap and shelf space simply because they can. They have the capital to throw around to distributors, just look at AB’s exclusive distribution network. Then the distributors take those incentives and bring it to the restaurants and stores to sell more so they get more incentives. “Hey, here are some awesome box tickets to the Yankee’s vs Redsox, how about that extra tap space?” “We accidentally gave you 2 extra kegs, no worries and oh, here is an extra jockey box we had laying around, bet you could use that for the patio bar. Thanks for being such a good customer, oh, btw, Assenheimerbusch is coming out with a new lower calorie beer thats lighter than air, how about you help us push it and do a few promo nights.” In the 14 years of bar tending I did, there wasn’t a place I worked where that didn’t happen on a regular basis. This is a federal issue which effects each state. State law, well, thats just another part of the game and we are starting to see state legislation loosen up a bit.
This is encouraging news. I’m glad to see the current trend. We should enjoy it while it lasts. Keith, I hope you can reap the rewards of this upward swing.
As we all know, “what goes up must eventually come down”…I just hope this trend continues for some time.