It's one of our recurring themes here at The Happy Hour Guys: Brewers Make Great Neighbors. Craft Brewing and drinking local means everything from jobs, to reinvestment in the community, to help with various charitable organizations and on and on. Scroll down and hit play to meet 11 American Craft Brewers that we've featured in various episodes who are changing, and empowering, their communities:
1. WYNKOOP BREWING, DENVER, COLORADO:
Rescuing a neighborhood, then moving on to the Governor's Mansion.
2. BEYOND KOMBUCHA, ASTORIA, NEW YORK:
Brewing Kombucha Ales with the 3rd biggest private solar array in New York City.
3. ALCHEMIST BREWING, WATERBURY, VERMONT:
Surviving a flood, yet keeping their people employed.
4. BROOKLYN BREWING, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK:
Revitalizing a neighborhood that once upon a time was redolent with brewers.
5. UNION CRAFT BREWING, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND:
Helping to revitalize a neighborhood, and along the way taking part in redefining Craft Beer and Race.
6. NEW BELGIUM BREWING, FORT COLLINS, COLORADO:
Everything from Company Ownership, to wind power, to bike culture!
7. SUN KING BREWING, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.
A great conversation with Co-Founder Clay Robinson, on everything that Craft Beer means to Sun King and the community in and around Indy.
8. WOLAVER'S BREWING, MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT:
Brewing 100% Organic isn't easy - but it's incredibly worthwhile.
9. FOUNDERS BREWING, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.
Completely revitalizing a section of a rust-belt town, in fact leading the way to re-making its image into Beer City USA, while making ridiculously great beer.
10. SAMUEL ADAMS BREWING, BOSTON, MASSACHUSSETTS:
With Micro-Loans, Brewing the American Dream.
11. LONG TRAIL BREWING, BRIDGEWATER CORNERS, VERMONT:
Brewing with cow power. Yes, you read that right. COW POWER.
The equation is simple: If you buy beer from one of the "Big Guys", a chunk of your money is very likely ending up overseas.
If you buy from a LOCAL brewer, your money. Stays. Home.
Have a brewer near you that's doing great things? Tell us about it in the comment section. Cheers!