Craft Beer Revolution Book

Product Description

Over the past 40 years craft-brewed beer has exploded in growth. In 1980, a handful of "microbrewery" pioneers launched a revolution that would challenge the dominance of the national brands, Budweiser, Coors, and Miller, and change the way Americans think about, and drink, beer. Today, there are more than 2,700 craft breweries in the United States and another 1,500 are in the works. Their influence is spreading to Europe's great brewing nations, and to countries all over the globe. In The Craft Beer Revolution, Steve Hindy, co-founder of Brooklyn Brewery, tells the inside story of how a band of homebrewers and microbrewers came together to become one of America's great entrepreneurial triumphs. Beginning with Fritz Maytag, scion of the washing machine company, and Jack McAuliffe, a US Navy submariner who developed a passion for real beer while serving in Scotland, Hindy tells the story of hundreds of creative businesses like Deschutes Brewery, New Belgium, Dogfish Head, and Harpoon. He shows how their individual and collective efforts have combined to grab 10 percent of the dollar share of the US beer market. Hindy also explores how Budweiser, Miller, and Coors, all now owned by international conglomerates, are creating their own craft-style beers, the same way major food companies have acquired or created smaller organic labels to court credibility with a new generation of discerning eaters and drinkers. This is a timely and fascinating look at what America's new generation of entrepreneurs can learn from the intrepid pioneering brewers who are transforming the way Americans enjoy this wonderful, inexpensive, storied beverage: beer.

Top Reviews

Politics is part of the Story.
by Julian Douglass (4 out of 5 stars)
October 27, 2015

While some people complain about the book being too political, I feel that there had to be some politics involved in this because of the countries asinine liquor laws being beneficial to AB InBev and SABMiller instead of helping out the craft brewers that are showing people that there is more to beer the Bud and Miller. Politics was part of the story.

The History of the revolution is great, especially when I have drank my fair share of Boulevard, Sam Adams, and other craft beers that Mr. Hindy talks about. It makes me realize the great history that the beers have gone through in such a small time, and got me thinking of finding places that serve craft brews only.

The only problem was the editing in the book was really sloppy. Multiple typos and I am ashamed that Mr. Hindy though that Jimmy Carter was president in 1972. If you think I am kidding, go to page 31 and read the last paragraph. "He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1972 in the midst of a recession that, together with the war, led President Carter to talk gloomily of a 'malaise' in America" (Hindy, 31). Sorry bud, Nixon was President at the time.
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Despite the politics, this is a Excellent book
by Aaron (4 out of 5 stars)
May 26, 2014

If i had to sum it up, about 75-85% of this book is fantastic. It shows a lot of the drama and issues that came up as the craft beer industry evolved from a impossible dream into a real, honest-to-god- industry (as opposed to just a simple nitch market), and it all comes from the view of one of the craft beer industries most central figures, the co-founder of the Brooklyn brewing company.

Of course, that last part is this books greatest weakness: the authors point of view. Even though he portrays events fairly evenly, its not a truly objective history of craft beer, as the author gets up on his soap box quite a few times (especially at the end), and most of it is railed at the Boston Brewing Company and Jim Koch (in particular). This was not as bad as I thought it was going to be however...... In fact, in most of the book he paints Jim as a rather misunderstood person (ex, showing that all evidence points to the fact that his companies medals where won fair and square, his dedication to the industry and passion for his business, and his regrets of alienating many of the smaller brewers in the industry). In short the book seems to show that a lot of the flack that Jim has gotten in the past is not earned, but seems to portray a negative view of the company's future (ex, saying that he feels that Jim wants to own the craft beer revolution and his need to have an enemy with big beer).

Its a bias, and to read the book properly you ahve to know that its their so you can think about his opinions as he goes along and come up with your own.........but does this make the boo ka bad buy?

not at all. its a highly recommended book that I feel needs to be in any brewers or beer lovers library. Its especially useful if you ever have to talk craft beer history in a bar and want something that gets the record straight.

it also works as a GREAT companion to Ambitious brew, and reading one after the other is highly recommended.

If the book wasn't so opinionated, I would had given it 5 stars.

Highly recommended. Check it out for yourself
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Interesting History of the Craft Beer Business
by J. Groen (5 out of 5 stars)
May 30, 2014

Although at times, this book does get involved in the craft beer politics, this, I think, is important because it provides the challenges of what was necessary for these entrepreneurs to survive.

The craft beer business, at this time, is one of the few areas of the US economy where entrepreneurial spirit is successful. Small companies are in fact taking a growing share of the business and providing the customer, the beer drinker, with a better product. The challenges that these organizations needed to surmount is important to understand. These challenges included the large brewers (which at this time are not even US companies), the large distributors, the federal and state governments, etc.

This is an important part of the book but not the only part. The author also reviews some of the craft brewers, the individuals who started them and how they got started and succeeded.

For these two reasons, I highly recommend this book. If you want a book that reviews the types of craft beers, I recommend: Tasting Beer.
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An insider look into crafty beer
by Robert J. Plumer (5 out of 5 stars)
November 25, 2015

An interesting look at the beginning of the craft brew industry. I discovered craft beer about 5 years ago and haven't looked back. Most of the book is easy to read. The author, Steve Hindy, is founding member of Brooklyn Brewery so he provides an insiders look on the trials, tribulations and triumph's of craft brewers as they try to establish themselves and grow. Some parts are a bit tedious with minor details but they don't last long. A lot more to it than just making the beer itself. If you want to find out more of craft beer history and where it came from this is a good start. Cheers!
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Five Stars
by G.Krause (5 out of 5 stars)
January 19, 2017

Excellent Products! Shipped fast too! The Best Deal I found anywhere else! Thanks!
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Well Written. Entertaining. Informative.
by John Gillespie (5 out of 5 stars)
July 11, 2014

The story has been told enough times by enough authors at this point that I respect Hindy for inserting more of his own personal views and telling the readers something we haven't already heard. Some may not like the political aspects of the book, but its a key part of the story and probably one of the most important things for today's beer consumers and craft beer enthusiasts to know.
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Excellent walk through the history of craft beer
by Martin Miliev (4 out of 5 stars)
September 17, 2015

Excellent walk through the history of craft beer. Would be perfect if it went hand in hand with beer samples from all the breweries mentioned.
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craft vs. crafty
by admirer of Latin literature (5 out of 5 stars)
May 1, 2014

Excellent book that describes the roots of the craft beverage movement and it key players, and how it's grown to become an important part of American culture; plus really great description of craft bee wings relationship with large brewers like AB and MillerCoors
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Five Stars
by robert (5 out of 5 stars)
June 21, 2016

awesome
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Five Stars
by geoff (5 out of 5 stars)
December 16, 2017

Great book

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