The future of craft beer as seen by author/Cicerone founder

[Crazy Climber]

Ray Daniels gives his outlook on the state of the industry.

http://beergraphs.com/bg/891-the-future ... erone-fou/

He sees a tough road ahead for small breweries, with distribution being a challenge, a greater reliance on tasting rooms and fewer brands "breaking through." Also, fewer imports and fewer far-away US beers on the shelves.

Thoughts?

[jimjohson]

As far as a national market, I reckon he's right. Don't try to go that route, Do like a German brewery, you got your town make the most of it. I believe they could make aa good living and maybe take a few towns away from BCMs

[ScrewyBrewer]

After speaking with several brewery owners in my area, the consensus among many of them is to brew any style of beer but an IPA. Let me frame that statement by saying the larger brewery is a 7Bbl. system and the smallest a 3Bbl. brewery. Instead they are brewing Belgian Ales, Porters, Brown, Pale Ale and Wheat beers, with specialties like casked sour and pumpkin beers too. Tap space is limited at local bars and restaurants in my area and there's plenty of competition among breweries to get their beers flowing through tap handles of their design.