Mapping the Rise of Craft Beer

Interesting piece -- including an informative interactive map -- by Daniel Fromson in this week's New Yorker . . .

at NewYorker.com, Daniel Fromson wrote:As of March, the United States was home to two thousand three hundred and sixty craft breweries, the relatively small, artisanship-oriented producers best known for India pale ales, porters, and other decidedly non-Budweiser-esque beers. These beverages have become so popular that craft beer now represents thirty per cent of Costco’s beer sales . . .

Idea of the Week: Mapping the Rise of Craft Beer

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ronnie_suburban wrote:

at NewYorker.com, Daniel Fromson wrote:These beverages have become so popular that craft beer now represents thirty per cent of Costco’s beer sales . . .

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I saw this last week and it is an interesting piece, but I think I missed this little stat. I think it says more about the demographic of the Costco clientele, than it does the overall popularity of craft beer.

ziggy wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:

at NewYorker.com, Daniel Fromson wrote:These beverages have become so popular that craft beer now represents thirty per cent of Costco’s beer sales . . .

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I saw this last week and it is an interesting piece, but I think I missed this little stat. I think it says more about the demographic of the Costco clientele, than it does the overall popularity of craft beer.

I saw this as well and just to be clear, the overall data came from the Brewers Association sales data, and not Costco sales. You couldn't be more right in that it says more about Costco clientele, as the overall beer consumption in the US isn't anywhere near 30% for all beer drinkers nationwide.

I was surprised by this figure also and went to the original source, which is this interview with Annette Alvarez-Peters, Costco’s assistant general merchandise manager for wine, spirits and beer:

SND: How are you responding to the interest in craft beers? How are traditional beers faring?

Alvarez-Peters: The craft segment now represents 30% of our beer sales. We’re experimenting with many local breweries in the various states where we do business. However, supply can be a challenge – we are limited to the inventory stocked at the distributor level. We’re finding success in different promotions with 750ml and larger sizes. This is an exciting category, which is seeing double digit growth. Domestic beers are struggling, while imported beers are up by single digits.

Costco's around here generally always have 12-pack samplers from Boston Beer Company and Two Brothers. They usually always have Goose Island too. (One could argue - if they like that sort of thing - that the interpretation of "craft beer" numbers really depends on whether you include the largest brands, like Boston, Sierra, Goose, etc.)

This very funny video was sent to me by another LTHer, who wasn't sure if he should post it or not. It's possibly nsfw (language), so please view with discretion . . .


Triumph Visits The Great American Beer Festival

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Is there any place on the web that is tracking the rise of breweries and brewpubs in Chicago?

The best I can find is some dudes blog but it hasnt been updated for months.

http://www.thelocalbeet.com/2013/04/27/ ... ight-here/

Through word of mouth, I'm anticipating the Lagunitas taproom to open soon (even their own website doesnt say when!) and the opening of the taproom of Buckle Down Brewing in Lyons next month.

But surely someone has to be keeping track of this stuff? If no one is, why not LTH?

I stick to the major beer forums (BeerAdvocate -- though I will loudly, uh, advocate that anyone/everyone stop using that site due to the ridiculous amount of ham-fisted over-moderation; TalkBeer.com is a new one and I think much better -- plus, it's optimized for mobile devices). Personally, I'm not as interested in the upstarts these days as I am when an established, well-regarded brewery finally enters the market (or returns, like with Surly). Too many locals pick up a tiny brewhouse and then charge $10+ for 22oz. bombers of beer (while not making beer available for draft accounts). At that price point and bottle size, I'm rarely going to risk trying anything.

threegoofs wrote:Is there any place on the web that is tracking the rise of breweries and brewpubs in Chicago?

The best I can find is some dudes blog but it hasnt been updated for months.

http://www.thelocalbeet.com/2013/04/27/ ... ight-here/

Yeah, I've got notes to update it, but there's been a lot of personal stuff going on that has taken precedence. I'll get something up soon that includes Breakroom, Moody Tongue, Buckledown, Rude Boy, Pokro, Aleman, Bluenose and Nomad.

Panic Brewing will soon open in my office building. The building itself has a historical link to beer brewing. It is the former headquarters of the Sebold Institute.

Boston Beer Co. founder calls Chicago 'vibrant' craft brewing city

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... ewing-city

Double, double toil and trouble. Check what’s in your next craft lager. It may not be eye of newt or toe of frog. But it could be close.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/tough-day-h ... 1444415107

I remember a decade ago or so thinking Chicago's local craft-beer scene was dismal for a city its size. Now I can't even keep up with the number of breweries and brewpubs here. As if to underscore the point, I'd never even heard of Moody Tongue until I read the above WSJ article. I'm with Moody Tongue's proprietor on this one though -- using ridiculous ingredients to create ridiculous beer flavors for the primary purpose of being "edgy" is a silly trend.

By my count, there are 148 craft brewers in Chicagoland, with more being planned (obviously). Four Paws is the only recent one I know of that has ceased operations.

Here we go:

The Chicago Craft Beer Map — Breweries, Brewpubs, Bars, Bottle Shops and More

at chicagotribune.com, Josh Noel wrote:Craft breweries are on pace to see a record number of openings and closings in 2018, the Brewers Association said Tuesday.

As of June 30, the nation was home to 6,655 breweries, the most in modern history. A year ago, the figure was 5,562. Thirty years ago — the year Chicago’s longest-tenured brewery, Goose Island Beer Co., opened — that number was less than 200.

Breweries hit record number in U.S. as openings and closings heat up

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nr706 wrote:By my count, there are 148 craft brewers in Chicagoland, with more being planned (obviously). Four Paws is the only recent one I know of that has ceased operations.

What a difference 3 years makes. Now we're at the point where it's even possible that good breweries (Arcade) fall because they're renting space from bad ones (Ale Syndicate).

at chicagotribune.com, Robert Channick wrote:Facing pressure from an increasingly crowded craft beer market, Lagunitas Brewing Co. announced this week that it is laying off 12 percent of its workforce, more than 100 employees companywide.

The California-based brewer, which operates a production plant in Chicago, posted a letter on its website from CEO Maria Stipp explaining the decision, which affects all departments across the country.

“The craft beer market is rapidly evolving and, in many ways, more challenging,” Stipp said. “We are dedicated to weathering the storm, to continue to be successful both in the U.S. and globally. In order to do that, we took difficult but necessary actions.”

Lagunitas lays off 12 percent of workforce as growing craft beer market faces pressure

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How about a beer that comes with it's own map on the can?

https://www.friartuckonline.com/Products/Crestwood-MO/740522111685/Beer/BELLS-LAGER-OF-THE-LAKES-6C/

This is related to the Lagunitas story posted above.

I am in Portland. Recently as part of the "explosion of small craft breweries and brewpubs" happening, some of the earlier opening or "old guard" places have begun to close. Their take is "we can't compete against the new guys" though at least one appears to have been spectacularly ill-managed by out-of-town owners.

I wouldn't think that this is unique to Portland. Is it happening in Chicago too?

See articles:
https://www.wweek.com/bars/2018/04/17/a ... me-things/
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/ ... 4a2af7c505
https://www.beervanablog.com/beervana/2 ... has-closed
https://www.wweek.com/bars/beer/2017/02/14/52773/