Probably not as good. Yankland will always have population numbers as an advantage over Australia, but they also have lower taxes and even specific subsidies aimed at encouraging their craft beer producers. Plus there's a certain glamour to American products. Walk into a craft beer joint in Australia and you can usually notice how they've imitated the US in several ways, not just in the types of beer they choose but in the food sold on the menu as well.
And the Yanks had the experience of prohibition, which they've avoided ever since. In Australia all we got was the temperance movement, which was never as dramatically bad. It has had a much more lingering effect on public policy (excise taxes), I think.
Yes, I thought I had read that quite a lot of successful medium size craft brewers here are being snapped up by the big beer companies; but there are so many small ones, including pubs doing it for themselves, that I can't see the independent brewer is under threat.
Well there may be strength in craft brewer numbers, but their weakness, and it's a bad one, is that the enthusiasm of many of the smaller craft brewers is not always matched by sufficient research or thought. Beer doesn't always age well. So, for instance, the delightful brews sold in the town where my mother-in-law lives are wonderful for the first few weeks, and then rapidly deteriorate after that.
What's ESPECIALLY bad for them is when they are chucked in the back of a hot car and taken home and then maybe put away in the cupboard.
When people find beer doing that, is it any wonder they opt for the reliable but boring brews from megabrewers?
Probably not as good. Yankland will always have population numbers as an advantage over Australia, but they also have lower taxes and even specific subsidies aimed at encouraging their craft beer producers. Plus there's a certain glamour to American products. Walk into a craft beer joint in Australia and you can usually notice how they've imitated the US in several ways, not just in the types of beer they choose but in the food sold on the menu as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Yanks had the experience of prohibition, which they've avoided ever since. In Australia all we got was the temperance movement, which was never as dramatically bad. It has had a much more lingering effect on public policy (excise taxes), I think.
Yes, I thought I had read that quite a lot of successful medium size craft brewers here are being snapped up by the big beer companies; but there are so many small ones, including pubs doing it for themselves, that I can't see the independent brewer is under threat.
ReplyDeleteA sobering article
ReplyDeleteWell there may be strength in craft brewer numbers, but their weakness, and it's a bad one, is that the enthusiasm of many of the smaller craft brewers is not always matched by sufficient research or thought. Beer doesn't always age well. So, for instance, the delightful brews sold in the town where my mother-in-law lives are wonderful for the first few weeks, and then rapidly deteriorate after that.
ReplyDeleteWhat's ESPECIALLY bad for them is when they are chucked in the back of a hot car and taken home and then maybe put away in the cupboard.
When people find beer doing that, is it any wonder they opt for the reliable but boring brews from megabrewers?
I always plan on drinking craft beer quickly. That's unavoidable, given that most of it I drink is purchased out of the tap at a pub or brewery.
ReplyDeleteI bought my first "growler" at Fortitude at Christmas, too. The beer was flatter the next day, but still fine.