In the mid-1980s, the American beer market offered far fewer options than what is available today. When microbreweries began to come onto the scene, distributors and retailers were skeptical of their new beers and did not believe that these new American brews would be able to compete with imports. Newer, smaller brewers also had to overcome antiquated laws and strong consumer brand loyalty to major domestic beers. After years of struggles, microbrewers established a foothold in the American beer market, popularized new and previously underappreciated styles, and set the stage for a massive proliferation of nanobreweries across the country. This book takes a look at these microbreweries—prime examples of American enterprise and innovation—from an industry outsider’s perspective. The author explores a select number of small breweries from around the United States, covering their signature brews, histories, and what it took for them to claim their niches in the marketplace.

Joseph Peter Klapatch lives in Galloway, New Jersey.

Joseph Peter Klapatch

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 267
Bibliographic Info: 86 photos (16 in color), notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2023
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9085-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4890-3
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments  vi
Preface  1
Introduction  5
American Craft Beer Companies  21
Between pages 76 and 77 are 8 color plates containing 16 photographs
Bibliography  239
Index  257