- With the rise of prohibiton, over 800 U.S. breweries were forced to close
- Production of beer/alcohol shifted widely to the mob and other underground entities
- Repealing of prohibition resulted in only approximately 300 returning
- This greatly slowed the progress of a “beer renaissance”
- Led to preference of “quick and cheap” manufacturing over quality
- Those with mass producing capabilities quickly eliminated small brewers in the market
- Craft beer formed as an idea in 1970’s
- Resulted from lack of imports/choice in the marketplace (classic product evolution)
- Brewers wanted to match the taste and style of imports at home
- Craft beer “boom” begins in the 1980’s
- First “Great American Beer festival held in 1982
- Had only 35 different beers
- Today’s festival contains over 2000
