Craft beer can be best described as a beer produced in limited quantities by a small, independent, and traditional brewer, with its products known for their uniqueness and innovation.
Given the state of the economy many people are looking for pleasure in the simple, more cost effective ways to spend their entertainment or dining dollar. Craft beer provides that pleasure in a $6 bottle to be tasted by two that a traditional $40 bottle of wine cannot do.
More and more, Chefs and restaurants are offering “beer dinners” in which different craft beers are paired with food dishes created to highlight the unique flavors found in the beverage. While this was a practice once reserved mostly for wines and wineries, more people are now able to enjoy this experience through beer.
Craft beer has allowed haute cuisine to become more approachable to the general public.
I recently had a conversation with Brad Gillette, creator of the widely popular Cleveland Food and Brews website. While I was a Chef in a few of Cleveland’s more popular restaurants, Brad became my go-to resource in learning about the latest beer trends or even getting advice on one that I absolutely must try.
I asked him what is it about craft beer that has grown so popular with the average consumer? He had plenty of opinions on that topic.
“I think the average person is looking for more out of their beer these days. People want better flavor, and they want their beer to have more personality. By that I mean people like to know the people behind the beer. Getting to know brewers and seeing their passion is both fun and a learning experience, and it makes drinking the beers they make more meaningful to us. The other thing that has made craft beer so popular is that it brings like-minded people together. I cannot tell you how many new friends I’ve made over a pint of beer over the past 12 months.”
I couldn’t agree more. Much like the wine crowd, craft beer allows fans of local or specific brewers and breweries to know a story behind what they are drinking. It becomes more than just cracking open a tall cold one after a long day. Craft beer also allows fellow enthusiasts the opportunity to be social with a common bond. Above all it is a lower cost hobby or passion to develop.
Brad certainly knows his beer, so I asked him out of all the beer he has sampled, what are some of his favorites.
“I have had beers from all over the US, but a few of my favorites are actually brewed right here locally (in Cleveland). Fat Head’s HeadHunter IPA is my all time favorite with Brew Kettle White Rajah, Great Lakes Nosferatu and Willoughby Brewing Hopnotic all being top tier favorites as well.”
Cleveland locals can rejoice! For people interested in exploring the world of craft beer, Brad’s suggestions are a great place to start. Above all, the brewers are usually available on-site allowing questions to be asked.
But what about those who don’t live in the Cleveland area? Surely this trend isn’t specific to just the area we both reside. So I asked him if other parts of the country are similar to ours in the growing popularity of craft beer.
“Traveling to places like DC and Chicago this past summer I can say their markets are just like ours. There are passionate people in every city looking for a quality beer, and with anything, if there is quality and passion behind something the general public will generally follow that trend.”
Sources:
Interview: Bradley Gillette, September 29, 2011
Paul Rados is a former Chef living and working in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook.