It isn't all just a walk in the park, this journey of establishing an up and coming brand; the smaller brewers face big challenges, enormous competition and skyrocketing costs. As with anything that is specific to a particular region or area, finding the right vibe and flavor necessary to create a truly unique product remains the dream of many entrepreneurs. Who wants to just produce what the other guys are churning out? Success in this marketplace lies in one's ability to build a brand of distinction from the ground up, and requires a key ingredient which stands out far above the rest. It's the elusive flavor or spice which I've come to call "that which sets you apart".
Let's look at a couple of the aspects and terms which define this industry.
Microbrewery or craft brewery: a facility that produces small amounts of beer (or sometimes root beer), typically much smaller than large-scale corporate breweries, and is independently owned. Such breweries are generally characterized by their emphasis on quality, flavor and brewing technique.
The microbrewing movement began in the United Kingdom in the 1970s although traditional artisanal brewing existed in Europe for centuries and subsequently spread to other countries[citation needed]. As the movement grew and some breweries expanded their production and distribution, the more encompassing concept of craft brewing emerged. A brewpub is a pub that brews its own beer for sale on the premises. Source:
History of craft brewing: this began as individuals saw America’s brewing landscape start to change by the late-1970s. The traditions and styles brought over by immigrants from all over the world were disappearing. Only light lager appeared on shelves and in bars, and imported beer was not a significant player in the marketplace. Source:
Definition of a Craft Brewer: "An American brewery which is small, independent and traditional".
- Small: Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less (approximately 3 percent of U.S. annual sales). Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships.
- Independent: Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by a beverage alcohol industry member which is not itself a craft brewer.
- Traditional: A brewer that has a majority of its total beverage alcohol volume in beers whose flavors derive from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients and their fermentation. Source:
Here are a few regional favorites from my area (Maryland, Virginia and Delaware):
- Milton DE: Dogfish Head | Facebook
- Warrenton, VA: Old Bust Head Brewing Co | Facebook
- Delmar, DE: 3rd Wave Brewing Company | Facebook
- Salisbury, MD: Evolution Craft Brewing | Facebook
- Parsonsburg, MD: Tall Tales Brewery | Facebook
- Owings, MD: Scorpion Brewing | Facebook
- Frederick, MD: Flying Dog Brewery | Facebook
Why might you wish to get out and explore the places which are off the beaten path, so to speak? Connecting with a small business or possibly getting to know the owner adds a wonderful layer of flavor to your area and it's landmarks - AND you'll be supporting someone right in your own zip code who is a part of the town or city. Who thinks the mega-sized corporations need more of our hard earned money? Not me. Of course, the delight of finding a specialty beverage to be a new favorite isn't anything to sneeze at either!
If you still needed a reason to visit, enjoy and support an independent brewer, what's better than an official holiday? The answer is "more holidays"! While National Beer Day may be the best known celebration, scroll down to see other dates of note.
- January 24th | Beer Can Appreciation Day
- April 23rd | German Beer Day
- May (2nd or 3rd week) | American Craft Beer Week
- August | Virginia Craft Beer Month
- August 3rd or 4th | International Beer Day
- September 28th | Drink Beer Day
- October 27th | National American Beer Day
- November 1st | International Stout Day
- December 10th | National Lager Day
Links of Interest:
- "This is why my brewery shut down" The owners of five breweries that closed or have been put up for sale in the past year explain just what went wrong.
- Brewers Association of Maryland | Facebook
- Craft Brewing Growth Statistics for 2017, Released by the Brewers Association at craftbeer.com
- September 2018 "Two Delaware breweries shut down; more closures inevitable", says expert.
- Beer Holidays to Plan Your Brewery Promotions
- Annual Beer Holidays
I hope you enjoyed reading. Cheers to exploring the awesome and indie places where you live! Find out more about our love for local at the links below.
Live Local, USA • "Sharing the Love of
Small Business from Coast to Coast"
