Last week, I had the opportunity to speak with co-owner and head brewer of Boscos and Ghost River Brewing Co, Chuck Skypeck. We’ll pick up here where we left the first part of the interview, in which Skypeck began discussing the seemingly exponential growth of passion and geek-dom from those at the front lines of the craft beer revolution, as well as a brief history of craft beer.
From what I’ve noticed, and this is certainly the case with me, most people who drink craft beer are extremely passionate about it. Any idea why this might be the case?
I think another thing besides craft beer becoming hip and cool among the 21 to 25 year old drinker is another thing that’s really pushed craft beer sales recently, and it’s the local food movement. I find it really fascinating that I’ve been preaching fresh and local from day one— that’s twenty years— and it hasn’t really resonated until now because it’s across a broader spectrum of products that people think of as being fresh and local. I honestly think that that the local food movement of the last few years has really helped craft brewing, and I think there’s a huge percentage of our customers drink our beer because it’s local, not because its considered craft.
