The U.S. is known for its culture of innovation, and the evolution of the craft beer industry is a fine example of how our country has contributed to the beers of the world. Once home to a healthy brewing industry, then laboring under Prohibition, the U.S craft beer industry has recovered to its pre-Prohibition state, and shows no sign of stopping!
So as we celebrate the spirit of independence this weekend, let’s raise a glass (or two), to the innovations that the U.S. has brought to brewers around the world.
Cascade hop–brewed for US craft beer
Hoppy Beer
U.S. brews have definitely been a showcase for hops. The American craft beer lover’s taste for hops has led to the creation of several new styles, including White IPA, Black IPA, Quadruple IPA, and probably several more that are being poured around the country right now! The U.S. West Coast, with the astounding Yakima Valley, produces some of the best hops in the world. The Cascade hop was developed in that region, and continues to shine as one of the favorite hops of craft beer brewers.
Steam Beer
In many ways, the United States is synonymous with innovation. Steam Beer, which is created by fermenting lager yeast at warmer temperatures, was developed primarily because West Coast brewers did not have access to warmer-weather yeast, or ice to cool their lager brews. The result was a brew that fermented rapidly and created a new flavor—now known as Steam Beer or California Commons. We can thank Fritz Maytag of Anchor Steam for pioneering that quintessential American style.
John Gorrie – forerunner of refrigeration
Cold Beer
Before the advent of refrigeration, brewers were either limited in their brewing styles, or forced to try new ways of brewing (as with Steam Beer). It was physician John Gorrie, born in Scotland but raised in South Carolina, who first designed a system of using suspended ice to cool sick rooms in order to help encourage healing. Since ice was hard to come by in the 1800s, he created a cooling device that relied on compressed air, which provided a foundation and inspiration for today’s refrigeration systems.
Canned Beer
The first canned beer came on the market in 1935, just a few years after the repeal of Prohibition. Created by the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company in partnership with the American Can Company, this new method of storing and serving beer quickly outstripped the previous, more expensive draught standard. Now, canned beers are on the rise as more breweries are taking advantage of their low-cost, portability, and general eco-friendliness.
U.S. Craft Beer export growth.
More Beer
As a relatively new nation, the U.S.’s beer culture was originally influenced by other countries (particularly Germany), but has since taken on a life of its own. Now, German brewers are looking to the U.S. for new ideas, including breeding the Cascade hop with German hops in order to create some new varieties.
American brewers have resurrected many previously lost classic brew styles, and have also created new brews that have washed up on the shores of other nations—in turn influencing the foreign craft brew industry. In Japan—not usually considered a brewing nation—craft brewers are stepping out of traditions, and are crediting the U.S. craft beer culture as their inspiration. And in Mexico, brewers are creating what they call craft beer—not Mexican beer—using flavors based on U.S. beer styles.
A Toast to the Dreamers
So this weekend, give a shout out to the folks—and brewers—who are working to make their dreams come true—and create some better beer in the process!
Have a safe and happy holiday!