Craft beer has quickly become a phenomenon of the past decade. Until the 1980s, most beer was made from corporate breweries, and they mostly offered swill if you liked it or not. Most beer in the U.S. corporate breweries was mostly lagers with a bitter taste. Microbreweries have been around for decades, but they gathered steam in the 1990s. For example, Shiner Brewery offered Shiner Bock, an amber beer based on a Belgium brewing style, in the Austin, Texas, area for decades until they went national in the 1990s are now offered everywhere.
Microbrewers
Microbrewers have now given way to craft breweries. These are mostly do-it-yourself brewers who have opened their own businesses in their own communities. Taste be damned. They offer beers, such as IPAs, lagers, pilsners, stouts, sours and many other combinations. From traditional beers to crazy beers that taste like a candy bar, you can now find beer that fits almost any taste thanks to the craft beer phenomenon.
Family Friendly
The craft beer brewery and related tasting rooms are displacing bars as the gathering place of choice for younger generations. Craft breweries are often family friendly with root beer and craft sodas for kids, and many even invite pets. It’s not unusual for craft breweries to have a picnic-style setting with food trucks and games. Beer is finally fun. When you search for craft beer at a store, you collect it and savor it as a treasure.
It seems that corporate and microbrewers have accepted the craft beer trend. They now offer their own varied beer brands and are purchasing some craft brewers to distribute their product to a wider area.
Southern Craft Beer
That brings us to beer in the South. The South has always featured diverse food tastes, ranging from spicy, comfort, traditional and daring. Beer finally matches the food. During our travels, we will visit a range of breweries throughout the southern half of the United States. Some may meander closer to the north, but you will be able to purchase the craft beer in the South. Who cares? Good beer is good beer.
Now let’s have some fun. When telling younger generations about the corporate beer swill offered only in the “old days”, it is a distant memory. Let us know if you have a favorite craft beer brewery or beer brand. We will try to find it. Watch our Craft Beer page for all things craft beer. If you are from the Louisiana area, you will want to check out The Cane River Brewing Company.
