Craft Beer
It's What’s Brewing
in South County
B
Beer
eer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in America
—42 percent of the people who drink alcohol drink beer.
In 1983, six major breweries produced 92 percent of the
is the
most popular
beer consumed in America.
In 1977,
the New alcoholic
Albion bever-
age
in
America—42
percent
Brewery in Sonoma, CA, though short-lived, ushered in a wave of of the
people who
drink
alcohol drink beer.
micro-breweries. In 1978, home brewing
became
federally
In
1983,
six
major
breweries
produced
legal; and in 1982, the Yakima Brewing Company became
the first
92
percent
of
the
beer
consumed
in
America.
In
1977,
the
New
establishment since Prohibition to brew beer and sell food on its Albion
Brewery
in Sonoma,
CA, in though
short-lived,
ushered in a wave of micro-
own
premises,
ushering
the rebirth
of the brewpub.
breweries.
In
1978,
home
brewing
became
federally
legal;
In the thirtyish years since, craft brewing has slowly
but and in 1982,
the
Yakima
Brewing
Company
became
the
first
establishment
steadily elbowed its way onto the main stage. In 2016, there since
Prohibition
to brew beer
and sell food
on its own
ushering the
were
5,301 breweries
in America,
99 percent
were premises,
craft
rebirth
of
the
brewpub.
breweries, with 520 in California alone. Mainstream breweries
the the
thirtyish
since,
craft but
brewing
has slowly
but steadily
still In
hold
largest years
market
share,
their sales
are declining,
elbowed
its
way
onto
the
main
stage.
In
2016,
there
were
5,301
and the craft brewers’ share is rising. Craft beers are appearing
in brewer-
ies
in
America,
99
percent
were
craft
breweries,
with
520
in
California
restaurants, taprooms, microbreweries, and brewpubs across the
alone. Mainstream
breweries
still hold
largest
market
share, but
country.
In 2016, America
ranked
21st the
in the
world
for annual
their
sales
are
declining,
and
the
craft
brewers’
share
is
rising.
beer consumption, at 74.8 liters per beer consumer annum. But Craft
beers are has
appearing
restaurants,
taprooms,
and brew-
America
the most in breweries
in one
country microbreweries,
and the most craft
breweries of any country. Because craft brewers can produce beer
quickly and in small batches, the beer if fresher than mainstream
beer and with their smaller size, they can produce a larger variety
in a shorter time span.
Written By Craig Lore
28
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
april/may 2019
gmhtoday.com