Hopefully a variation of this Blog will appear in the ABC Fine Wine and Spirits newsletter soon but I thought I'd share it here first...
Many domestic beer fans shy away from Micro Brews because of the bad rap that they have gotten from the mainstream Beer providers (who shall remain nameless) and other drinkers. Let me see if I can list some of the reasons why this is so:
“It’s not available where I live.”
“It’s too expensive.”
“It’s not going to taste good.”
Some of these reasons could be considered more legitimate than others but if this is so (especially the taste factor) then why are the big guys coming out with their own versions of popular Micro and Foreign styles? In my opinion, it’s a 2 fold plan; 1 they are trying to tempt wavering Micro beer drinkers to their products (some of them are okay, although I wouldn’t drink them all the time) and 2 they are attempting to keep their consumers with them instead having them being tempted away by Micro Beers. Which leads to me to next point… their customers ARE being tempted away (and kept away). This is occurring due to several factors…
Micro Brews are everywhere!
Super Markets, Major Liquor Stores, Mom & Pop Liquor stores and most larger convenience stores carry smaller brewery beers (Yuengling and Sam Adams still count even though they are some of the larger domestic breweries in the USA). Many distributors have picked up smaller batch beers because of their increasing popularity due to internet and word of mouth buzz (some include Sierra Nevada, Dogfish Head, Abita, Lienenkugel’s, etc). Local Bars have also tapped into this Micro Beer craze which has helped get many new names out there, which has helped this next point flourish…
Micro Brews are getting Cheaper!
Since many major distributors have picked up the larger Microbrews and are bringing them to wider outlets, the overhead on these beers has gone down. You don’t have to travel 2 towns over to purchase that Micro beer you heard about from your sister’s cousin (unless you live in rural Kansas). Often times the brew you’re looking for is right up the street at your ABC/Other retailer. They are not quite as cheap as their domestic counter parts but they are less pricey than they used to be.
“Micro Brews don’t taste like my domestics”
Oh contraire! Whatever domestic you enjoy on a weekly (or daily) basis I’d bet I could find you a Microbrew along the same style that you would enjoy much more. Many domestics are pale imitations of European style beers (Pilsner being the most copied style which is akin to the “lights”) and many microbrews have taken these styles and brewed them closer to how they were done in the beginning. They however cost less than the foreign types but walk that taste line between the original intent and how American’s like their beer to be.
A few other points to mention is that many of these new beer sources are in fact local breweries (There are at least 2 breweries I know of in the central Florida area that are now being picked up). Distributors also filter in regional brews as well, the Southeast has Abita and the Northwest has Pyramid Breweries (who just bought Magichat), both of these produce several different beer styles. As an added side note, many times when you purchase Micro Brews you’re purchasing American! Many of the mega breweries have been bought out by foreign investors so… even when you think you’re buying American, you’re not. The big label domestics will not be unseated from their major share anytime soon but they are feeling the effects of losing their consumers to the large resurgence of so many Micro beers. So, my advice is to you funnel your money into Beer that not only tastes better but also supports your local and regional community!
