| According to Wikipedia, "A microbrewery, or craft | | | | The Wikipedia article continues, "In the early |
| brewery, is a modern brewery [that] produces a | | | | twentieth century, Prohibition drove many breweries |
| limited amount of beer." | | | | in the US into bankruptcy because they could not |
| The ancient art of beer brewing began with the | | | | rely on selling 'sacramental wine' as wineries of that |
| establishment of agricultural society and the | | | | era did. After several decades of consolidation of |
| cultivation of grains such as barley and wheat. Around | | | | breweries, most American commercial beer was |
| 4000 BC, the Sumerians discovered the effects of | | | | produced by a few very large corporations, resulting |
| drinking gruel that had been left to ferment; this ale | | | | in a very uniform, mild-tasting lager.... Consequently, |
| became more alcoholic once brewers began malting | | | | some beer drinkers craving variety turned to home |
| the barley. Germinating the grain, then drying and | | | | brewing and eventually a few started doing so on a |
| heating it so that the starch turned to sugar, | | | | slightly larger scale. For inspiration, they turned to |
| produced a more powerful fermentation and stronger | | | | Britain, Germany, and Belgium, where a centuries-old |
| flavor. | | | | tradition of artisan beer and cask ale production had |
| In northern Europe, where the cultivation of wine | | | | never died out." |
| grapes was unknown, but where grain flourished, | | | | Microbrews were so popular, the trend caught on |
| brewing probably developed independently. A French | | | | and hundreds of microbreweries sprang up. As they |
| doctor discovered that yeast is the microorganism | | | | proliferated, some became larger than the |
| responsible for the fermentation process. | | | | microbreweries of the original definition, and the term |
| Health experts have known for some time that | | | | came to include the concept of artisanal beer in the |
| moderate alcohol consumption actually benefits health. | | | | European tradition. The Association of Brewers |
| Studies have shown that those who consume | | | | reports that in 2006 there were 1,389 regional craft |
| moderate amounts of beer (one to two a day at | | | | breweries, microbreweries, and brewpubs in the |
| most) have a 30-40% lower rate of coronary heart | | | | United States. |
| disease than those who don't drink. | | | | Thousands of beer lovers have realized their dreams |
| Other health benefits of beer include: | | | | by building successful microbrewery businesses. If |
| --Increased amount of good cholesterol (HDL) in the | | | | you are so inclined, you can too. Microbrewery |
| bloodstream. | | | | business plans are available online; because alcohol |
| --Improved circulation. | | | | control is given to the states, laws vary by state. |
| --Decreased occurrence of blood clots. | | | | Some American microbreweries act as their own |
| --Variety of minerals. | | | | distributor (wholesaler) and sell to retailers and/or |
| --A similar amount of polyphenols, a type of | | | | directly to consumers. |
| antioxidant, to red wine. | | | | |
