Craft beer still bubbling
Amid the daily dose of grim economic news, there is some sunshine.
Craft beer sales in America are continuing to climb. From 2007 to 2008, estimated sales by craft brewers were up 5.8 percent, the Brewers Association announced this week.
When compared to prior years, when craft beer sales jumped by double digits, the rate of growth has slowed. But these days any upward economic movement is a plus.
Usually the only beer numbers I focus on are how many beers I have downed, and what is their ABV. But the craft brewers release and a Gallup poll from last summer have some interesting things to say about beer trends.
Here are a few:
* While craft beers sales rose again last year, they account only for 4 percent of U.S. volume.
*Imports sales dropped last year, as did sales of the nation's top 10 brands.
* Age matters. Beer, according to Gallup, is the preferred alcoholic beverage, 42 percent to 31 percent, for Americans of legal drinking age. But when you break out age groups, beverage preferences change.
* Beer rules in both the 18-29 age group and the 30- 49 group.
* Wine, however, is the first choice in the over-50 age group.
* Spirits are the second favorite beverage among the young segment, the 18-29 age group. Wine is the backup beverage for the 30- 49 age group, and the 50-and-older segment chose beer as their second fave.
This poses several questions:
What is your favorite backup beverage?
Have your tastes changed as you have aged?
Comments
I'm in the 30-40 age group. Craft has been my preference from before I was legal, spending much of my time in Wells working through their selection with my fake ID. Though it has remained the same, I tend to either stick with the mixture of easy session brews and mouth puckering IPAs. I keep away from the RIS and heavy brews in volume because they are pricier and cut back on how many one can actually enjoy. As a backup, it would be red wine. White wine and liquor would be a much distant third. I only drink macros if forced to. I'd rather drink water.
Posted by: Cheese | February 25, 2009 10:17 AM
I was a beer-only guy for years, but in recent years have developed a taste for bourbon, especially the small-batch and finer ones. I also enjoy a glass of red wine now and then. In order, for me, its probably bourbon, beer (neck and neck though), with wine right behind.
I'm in the 40-49 group, but not for too much longer.
Posted by: PCB Rob | February 25, 2009 1:17 PM
My back up is single malt scotch. It has been since I tasted some good stuff in my mid twenties. But with the prices starting around $60+ per bottle for the scotch that I like, it's not something I can indulge in frequently. I will also reach for water before wine. I just have never acquired a taste for any style of wine (Including Barley wine).
Posted by: David | February 26, 2009 7:34 AM