Drink indigenous

[randy_byers]

Apparently one industry that's still doing well in the economic downturn is craft brewing. This AP article claims that demand is growing so much that some craft brewers are reducing distribution to serve the local market. I'm not convinced that this is an actual trend, but the article is still an interesting reflection of the gradually evolving U.S. beer market:

Craft brewers pull back on wider market to tap local thirsts

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015801784_brewery03.html

The other side of this, which Jeff Alworth writes about in "The Future is Craft", is that increased sales of craft beer seems to be coming at the expense of some of the big industrial beers. He quotes an LA Times article: "Big beer brands have been losing the affinity of core drinkers over the last two years, according to YouGov's BrandIndex, a research firm that tracks brand buzz, loyalty and quality perceptions based on consumer surveys. MillerCoors' Miller Lite and Coors Light and Anheuser-Busch's Bud Light have had negative ratings for most of that period."

Comments

[janetl.livejournal.com]

Gasp! Miller Lite, Bud Lite and Coors Lite have negative ratings? I am shocked!

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Almost gives me hope for the future.

Almost.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

My grandfather prospered during the Great Depression, because he was a beer distributor. Beer was one of the cheapest entertainments available, along with, perhaps, movies.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

That makes sense. What's interesting about the craft beer trend is that it's higher priced than big corporate beer.

[grytpype-thynne.livejournal.com]

Beer - is there anything it can't do?!

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

It can't make you sober.

[reverendjim.livejournal.com]

Hm, seems odd that Flying Dog are the focus of that article as their beers seem to have become easier to get over here; I've seen a lot on draught recently. Admittedly the brewer was over recently for the big beer festival, and did a tasting night at The White Horse, so they had a lot of FD on for their US festival, but that wouldn't explain all the other beers I've seen in the last few months.
On the other hand, it does sound like Dogfish Head have stopped exporting bottles, which is a shame.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

I'm actually not sure I've ever had anything from Flying Dog, although I think I've seen bottles. (Right. They're the ones with the Ralph Steadman labels.) I would miss Dogfish Head if I couldn't get their stuff anymore. Have been really enjoying the Festina Peche this summer. (Berliner Weisse has been cropping up around here lately. I just had one at the Elysian last night that was also very nice.)

[reverendjim.livejournal.com]

There was a chain of off-licenses (booze shops) over here that many years ago started selling a few US beers when they just weren't seen in this country, and for some reason they tended to mostly be Flying Dog. I'm not sure if it was the Ralph Steadman connection or not.
They started selling Flying Dog and Pete's Wicked Ale, then they later got some Anchor, Sierra Nevada Pale and Sam Adams lager if I remember rightly. The latter three tend to be some of the easiest to get over here still, though I think I've occasionally seen FDog in a supermarket.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

I believe Pete's recently went out of business, which is odd, because they used to be one of the best-selling microbrews nationally.