I met up with an old friend last night and we discussed the rate at which new breweries are popping up and how all seem to currently flourish. There is a finite amount of tap handle and shelf space, yet each time a new brewery opens their doors it seems as if demand immediately exceeds supply. So what is actually causing the success for the new breweries? We philosophized about it for quite some time, but never came to the answer.
In case you did not know, I am a bit of a beer snob. If if a beer is merely acceptable or is less than stellar I pass over it for something else. Last night one of the beers sounded good and then I discovered the brewery (not local) which made it and decided to try something else. I am glad that breweries have loyal followings and even when they make something I don’t prefer, they have a patrons who line up to buy their beers. This loyalty is certainly one reason breweries with beers which are not well crafted can keep on trucking. That and the fact there is a beer out there for everyone, just because I do not like it does not mean someone in beer land doesn’t consider it well crafted or their favorite beer.
If you are one of the breweries who is not putting 110% into crafting the best recipe and putting out the highest quality product, I propose you strive to get there. Currently failure is not an option, but the beer world tends to be cyclic in nature. We are certainly on the upside of the curve, but when the downside comes (and I hope it never does), be ready for survival of the fittest.