If you’re thinking about serving craft beer at your Labor Day barbecue, skip shopping at the grocery store.
“Craft beers are upending the beer industry with annual growth of 20-24% a year and yet, you won’t find them in your local grocery store,” said Corie Brown, Windsor Square resident and co-founder and general manager of Zester Media, an award-winning destination for food, wine, and travel enthusiasts.
Most of the brands at the grocery store are actually owned by the four major beer companies, explains Brown, whose book, “Start Your Own Microbrewery, Distillery and Cidery,” a joint project between Zester Media and Entrepreneur Press, is an oral history of the craft beer industry.
Most breweries are operated by independent business people trying to figure out how to produce and market a quality product while navigating the Byzantine network of state alcohol laws that followed the repeal of prohibition more than 80 years ago.
“These are independent business people who should be championed by the local community. We tell personal stories of success and frustration. The more you know about it, the more you enjoy drinking!” explained Brown.
Brown suggests Larchmont Village Wine and Cheese or Silverlake Wine or even Whole Foods, which all have good selections of craft beers. If you’re not hosting a party this weekend, you could wait until next week and check out Brown’s book signing and beer tasting on September 9 at 7 p.m. at Chevalier’s Books. Brewers Evan Weinberg of Cismontane Brewing Company and Andrew and Anthony Caspary of Ventura Spirits will be sharing their stories and their products.
Thanks so much for putting a spotlight on the craft beer in Los Angeles however, to set the record strait, with the stated growth of 20-24%, you can be sure that Vons, Ralphs and other grocery chains have jumped on the bandwagon. There’s a really nice selection of American craft and a deep variety of cool imports at both Ralphs and Pavilions in our neighborhood. You won’t get the great personal service like Larchmont Wine & Cheese or Silverlake, but the big stores offer much more than than 4 behemoth breweries.