What Is Craft Beer?

Craft beers are made by small brewers using traditional methods. They're often brewed in smaller batches, which means that each batch has its own unique flavor. Some craft beers even use wild yeast instead of regular brewer's yeast, which gives them a distinctive taste.

The History of Craft Beer

In the early 1800s, beer was mostly consumed as an alcoholic beverage. It wasn't until the late 19th century that people started drinking beer for its nutritional value. By the 1920s, there were more than 1,000 breweries in America. Today, there are more than 9,100 breweries in the U.S., with California having the most with 931. 

Top 10 States with Craft Breweries in 2021

1. California - 931
2. Pennsylvania - 486
3. New York - 485
4. Washington - 437
5. Colorado - 428
6. Michigan - 408
7. Texas - 406
8. Florida - 374
9. Ohio - 365
10. North Carolina - 364

* Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/726518/number-craft-breweries-state/

Craft Beer in Washington State

Technically, the craft beer boom in Washington officially began in the 1980s.  I can recall being in college and going down to a local pub to get a pint of Thomas Kempner Fine Münchner Lager style beer and was blown away by the taste and aroma.  No other beer could compete and that started me on the craft beer path that eventually lead to Sound2Summit, almost 35 years later.

In Washington State, we can take our craft beer for granted.  Did you know that Washington boasts nearly 70 percent of U.S. production of hops grown, with 98 percent of U.S. hops grown throughout the Northwest, according to the Hop Growers of America's 2017 report.  Combine that with incredible water, and that is a winning combination for any beer lover.

Craft beer in Washington State can actually be traced to early hop farms that were first planted here over a hundred years ago. It's a story that involves an old transmission repair shop in a quiet Seattle neighborhood; a colorful Scotsman named Bert Grant from Yakima, and some visionaries that took a leap of faith.  But mainly, it took adjustment to Washington State liquor laws stretching back to the Prohibition era being amended in the 1970's that cleared the path for local breweries to compete against the behemoth breweries such as Anheuser-Busch, Pabst, Schlitz, and Miller.  Then all it took was for the word to get out that there were other options available to consumers.  And in Washington State, the word is out. 

Craft beer continues to take market share from the large macro-breweries, and with new breweries and creative brewers coming in to the industry, coupled with innovations in hops, grains, etc., the craft beer industry will continue to evolve and provide you with new tastes and experiences.