Another craft brewery sold – What defines craft these days?
I saw this news article about the sale of Anderson Valley Brewing Company on BeerNews.org this morning, and I realized that there is a bigger controversy bubbling under the surface here.
What is the definition of craft brewery these days?
This is the Brewer’s Association defines a craft brewer as.
I can see why investors would want to gobble up successful craft breweries and throw them in their holding company pens with their other money makers, but I worry about the craft in craft brewing if certain business models start meddling with a good thing.
I’ve expressed this before, but large breweries often find success at the cost of losing some touch with the community. I applaud those breweries who make an effort to reach out to local beer drinkers.
Anderson Valley Brewing Company is pretty rural, and as such, I wonder if more growth-focused business will hurt the brewery at a local level. Who knows, I’m judging these business investors without letting them see what they can do. It’s just a suspicion at this point.
Prost,
GG
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