06 Jan Craft Beer’s Popularity is Growing. Just Don’t Call it a Trend.
By Kevin Allen of South Bend Tribune
More brewers are pouring into the market for craft beer — in the South Bend region and nationally — to satisfy drinkers who want brews with unusual ingredients, an extra-hoppy bite or some other experimental edge.
But don’t call it a trend.
”One of my pet peeves is when craft beer is called a trend,” said Chris Stuck, the craft-beer consultant for Chalet Party Shoppe stores in Elkhart County. “Craft beer has been around as long as beer has been around. Craft beer was the original beer.”
So, maybe it should be called a comeback instead.
More brewers are pouring into the market for craft beer — in the South Bend region and nationally — to satisfy drinkers who want brews with unusual ingredients, an extra-hoppy bite or some other experimental edge.
But don’t call it a trend.
”One of my pet peeves is when craft beer is called a trend,” said Chris Stuck, the craft-beer consultant for Chalet Party Shoppe stores in Elkhart County. “Craft beer has been around as long as beer has been around. Craft beer was the original beer.”
So, maybe it should be called a comeback instead.
Back in the 1870s, the United States had more than 4,000 breweries, according to the Brewers Association, a national organization based in Colorado. Then refrigeration, Prohibition and consolidation changed the industry. As a result, fewer than 100 breweries were operating nationwide by 1984.
Now there are almost 100 breweries in Indiana and more than 3,000 nationwide. They’re making beers in small batches and showing how many different flavors can be concocted from water, malted barley, yeast and hops… CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY AT SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE
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