| Breweries in America are growing at an exponential | | | | Buffalo, New York; and competitions to enter like the |
| rate. Beer brewing is becoming big business with a | | | | World Beer Cup held in Seattle, Washington. Of these |
| resurgence of traditional types of ales and lagers | | | | sites, about 85% are based in the U.S. so the |
| combining with more exotic offerings. With a colourful | | | | Americans seem to be leading the pack! |
| history, beer carries on its controversial way to | | | | During the 1960s, 70s and 80s, beer in America was |
| regain the traditional role it's always played as an | | | | primarily made and distributed by large beer brewing |
| every-day beverage, while taking on a more creative | | | | companies. In the early 1980s, many of the states |
| flavour to please every palate. | | | | passed legislation that allowed the smaller |
| Back in 1620, when the Mayflower came to | | | | microbreweries to get in on the action. The large |
| America's shores, the boat fell a bit short of its | | | | companies still do big business, but many patrons are |
| destination due to a shortage of beer, according to a | | | | fussy and want high-quality, exclusive beers; they are |
| passenger's journal. One doesn't think Puritans would | | | | the "yuppies" of beer drinkers. In and around any city |
| have drunk beer - they were Puritans, after all - | | | | in America, there are anywhere from 2 to 20 |
| however this was the every-day drink of choice. | | | | breweries within a 15-mile radius of that city and the |
| People drank beer as we drink pop, juice, milk and | | | | numbers are growing. Some states have more |
| water today. Each tavern and inn brewed its own | | | | breweries than others. Each microbrewery has a |
| beer. | | | | family tradition they want to maintain and each beer |
| It is only in modern society that we see beer as | | | | is different; a return to the old days when two |
| having a perilous quality. There were no laws | | | | taverns a mile apart had two different-tasting beers. |
| governing beer brewing and drinking. There were no | | | | The breweries have gone back to creating beers |
| police roadblocks to catch drunk drivers. How much | | | | that are made from all-natural ingredients like malt, |
| damage could a horse and cart inflict? Certainly there | | | | hops and yeast. They produce traditional lagers and |
| were no scantily-clad women prancing about at | | | | ales together with exotic beers that have a hint of |
| parties, drinking beer and impressing men with their | | | | spices, vanilla, caramel, coriander and anise. One |
| sudsy sexiness. Beer was an every-day beverage | | | | brewery, found online, uses rose hips in their beer. |
| drunk by everyone in the household from adult to | | | | Usually used for tea, rose hips must provide an |
| child. When the Mayflower arrived, the people | | | | interesting taste to beer. Lemon coriander beer may |
| discovered that the Natives made their beer from | | | | be quite refreshing on a hot day. |
| maize. Wonder which beer was drunk at the first | | | | Soon we will be having discussions about what type |
| Thanksgiving? This may have been the first ever | | | | of beer goes best with chicken or beef. We'll hear |
| "Bring Your Own Beer (BYOB)." | | | | opinions like: "The caramel-flavoured beer would go |
| The United States has become an international | | | | great with that cheesecake; a sweet beer just made |
| contender in beer brewing and the country can hold | | | | for dessert." Is that beer good for pasta? Would it |
| its own when in competition with other countries that | | | | be better with a roast beef dinner? Already there |
| are notorious for making amazing beer. The U.S. | | | | are countless beer-tasting functions. Is beer the new |
| prohibition slowed things down a little, but in the 21st | | | | wine? Is there a "twirl-glass-sniff-liquid-swish-in-mouth" |
| century, things seem to be heating up for American | | | | process for beer? Like martinis, there are excessive |
| breweries. According to the Brewer's Association, | | | | amounts of beer types. Perhaps the process should |
| nearly 7 million barrels of beer will be made and drunk | | | | be expedited; Beertinis for everyone! |
| by Americans in 2006. That's a lot of kegs, bottles, | | | | The beer brewing companies in America, found online, |
| pints and glasses! | | | | emphasize the importance of quality. They discuss |
| Online there are multitudes of sites about beer: beer | | | | the importance of tradition. They discuss the |
| brewing magazines to read like "Yankee Brew News" | | | | importance of bringing beer back to its every-day |
| and "Brewery News;" breweries to visit; associations | | | | role played for thousands of years. This time, |
| for beer-makers to join like the Brewer's Association; | | | | breweries also seem to feel beer can be |
| festivals to attend like the Barleywine Festival in | | | | creative-tasting and still be in demand. |
