THERE ARE ALMOST NO BLACK PEOPLE BREWING CRAFT BEER. HERE'S WHY.

[HuckleB]

https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/there-are-almost-no-black-people-brewing-craft-beer-heres-why

"I’M IN A CRAFT BEER BAR IN BROOKLYN, sipping a $9 stout and looking for black people. “Juicy” is on the speakers, and Notorious B.I.G. grew up a five-minute walk from my barstool here on the dividing line between Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant. This is a traditionally black neighborhood, but right now, at 10:30pm on a Thursday, the only people in the bar are me (white), the bartender (white), and a stocky guy with a beard down at the end mouthing lyrics and nursing a bomber of what looks like Hill Farmstead (he’s white, too).

My search isn’t going well so far.

That’s because craft beer is white. Whiter than a ski lodge. Whiter than a Whole Foods in the suburbs. Craft beer is so white, in fact, that there’s an entry for “microbreweries” in Stuff White People Like, a book based on a blog written by a white person making fun of white people for being white. The passage concludes with this sentence: “[M]ost white people want to open a microbrewery at some point.”

Do most black people want to open a microbrewery at some point? Do any? The Brewers Association, the craft industry’s leading trade group, doesn’t keep records on the racial breakdown of its membership; nor does the American Homebrewers Association, its DIY-focused branch. Both organizations told me they weren’t aware of the existence of any such data. After digging around, neither am I.

So, in the absence of statistics, I set out to answer a simple question: where the hell are all the black craft brewers, bar owners, bloggers, aficionados, and nerds? Why is craft beer -- the consumer side, and especially the business side -- so white?

..."

---------------------------------------

Well, I found it interesting.

[ghostsinthemachine]

1. I am involved in the industry in northern CA

Ain't no black people. Not even at Oak Park brewing, located at a traditionally black neighborhood (about to gentrify). I go to beer fests, visit breweries and tap houses and seldom see people of color.

[HuckleB]

12. Indeed.

I seldom see people of color in brewpubs in Portland, even in the few neighborhoods where there is an African American population. At the big Waterfront Brewfest in July, one will see a few folks scattered, but not at any of the other more specialized festivals.

[Codeine]

94. I'm a grocery retailer with an enormous craft portfolio.

Of my hundred or so craft beer people we have one black guy and one black woman shopping that section, and the woman mostly sticks to Belgian imports and Belgian-style brews with only occasional craftier purchases. Absolutely everyone else is white or Latino.

[HuckleB]

104. Where is this fine market of yours?

I'd love to check it out, some day!

[Codeine]

112. Riverside CA

In a part of town so rough our craft beer motto is Hipsters and Hobos.

[HuckleB]

113. Well, that gives me some lead time to figure out how to dress.

[villager]

130. There's a dress code for Riverside? What's next? Dinner attire for San Bernardino or Hemet!?

[HuckleB]

134. Hey, man if the Riverside hipsters are lax, I'll go with boxers, white socks, and my big belly.

I'm not proud!

[snooper2]

185. First in my class here at M.I.T. , Got skills, I'm a Champion of D&D

MC Escher that's my favorite MC
Keep your 40
I'll just have an Earl Grey tea




This video explains it better than any reply to the OP

[firebrand80]

2. What the hell is craft beer? nt

[Orrex]

8. I thought that it was beer made from cheese

My mistake... That's Kraft beer.

[FrodosPet]

43. They make cheesy beer and cheesy electronic music, don't they?

[jeff47]

126. That's pasteurized processed beer food. (nt)

[trumad]

42. Best beer in the world..

Better than the piss water Bud or Miller

[Locrian]

45. an excuse ;)

[NutmegYankee]

71. Beer that doesn't suck made by small companies.

It's a huge trend in many places, THANK GOD.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. a lot of things associated with hipsterism is WHITE

white as white can be. including and especially hipsters.

but don't worry we live in post-racial world.

[HuckleB]

13. Hipsters drink Pabst, though.

[dembotoz]

159. grew up drinking pbr...did not know i r cool now

then they moved out of milwaukee and i migrated to other brews

[HuckleB]

169. You are now the hippest of the hipster crowd!

[closeupready]

16. So fucking right. How pathetic it all is. NOW do you get

why I keep it and all hipsters at arm's length? So not what drew me here.

[tkmorris]

19. Not entirely sure what you are trying to say here

We don't live in a "post-racial world", even when you consider that such a thing is an over-simplified concept in the first place.

Nonetheless, despite the racism that remains, this is not an example of it. The racial disparity on display here is one entirely of choice.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

20. How are you so sure it's choice and not access

I said the post racial thing in absolute sarcasm

[TipTok]

70. What exactly do you suspect is barring them from participation?

As per the article, some of these breweries are in traditionally black neighborhoods.

[cheapdate]

137. Pretty certain it was sarcasm. They meant the opposite.

[Chan790]

98. ...but is there a particular reason...

why enjoyment of small-batch artisan beer is a distinctly white or hipster thing? I can't see any reason why it would be.

People of all kinds of ethnic, socioeconomic and racial backgrounds like beer. You'd think there would be as many non-white people proportionately who were interested in making their own beer. It's not an expensive hobby. It doesn't require a lot of specialized training.

I can't see any reason craft beer would have a lower social buy-in rate among minorities than...say...ice hockey. (Which is expensive and requires at least a year of skating practice before you'd be good enough to play in even a recreational league.) And yet...ice hockey, probably the whitest sport on Earth, has a higher rate of social buy-in among minorities than interest in craft beer.

Assuming there's a reason beyond I have no idea what it is and from the standpoint of being someone interested in sociology and political theory...not being able to put my finger on the causes of social phenomena is discomforting. It suggests that the inherent factor of chaos in social sciences is higher than we want to believe.

[TexasBushwhacker]

107. From the article

"You’d get an earful from the closest neckbeards"

LOL

[Odin2005]

193. That is the first time I have seen the term "neckbeard" outside of Reddit.

[Jester Messiah]

138. I can't even enjoy a goddamn beer anymore?

I have to reflect upon the sins inherent in my pasty white hide while sipping it? Jesus tap-dancing Christ. THIS is why Trump happens.

[B2G]

4. Why does it matter? nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. because if you want to reduce racism, you have to look at where race matters and has an impact

being color blind is a modern form of perpetuating racism

[B2G]

9. Do you have any proof that blacks even WANT

to get into the craft beer business? That they even want to drink it?

Are they being kept from these pursuits because of the color of their skin? No?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. Do you have proof of the opposite?

Without some research or questions asked how do we know whether this is preference, impact, consequence, lack of access?

[auntpurl]

11. Well said. nt

[HuckleB]

17. Indeed. It's worthy of discussion, at the very least.

Similar discussion are happening in regard to outdoor activities like hiking, backpacking, skiing, etc...

[La Lioness Priyanka]

22. In a country where race determines so much

When there are apparent disparities it is always worth looking into

[HuckleB]

83. Yeah, I'm a bit astounded by some of the replies here.

I guess this is one area where I thought there would be more agreement at DU.

I am wrong again.

Take care.

[TipTok]

139. I suspect not as much as you think...

I wonder how many restrictions are actually self imposed.

[forthemiddle]

38. No studies only personal observation

When it comes to craft breweries I would say I am close to an expert! LOL.
Seriously my husband and I go on Beercations. We have been to aroun 400 different microbreweries in the past 3 years.
Many new startups are in up and coming neighborhoods, those that some may say are being gentrified, but those neighborhoods are generally only blocks from minority neighborhoods, yet it is very rare to see an African American in them.
Is that culture, taste, or financial? I'm not sure, but it is an obvious observation.

[LanternWaste]

26. I'm officially convinced you're satire.

I'm officially convinced you're satire... as I honestly believe you're too intelligent to ask this seriously.

[B2G]

37. I'M satire?

LMAO.

[LiberalArkie]

57. Didn't the Obamas make some of their own beer?

[DesMoinesDem]

33. "being color blind is a modern form of perpetuating racism"

Dumbest shit I've read in awhile. Thanks for the laugh.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

35. pretending there are no disparities by being color blind does perpetuate racism

if you find that funny, that's entirely up to you.

[DesMoinesDem]

49. You can believe whatever crazy shit you want to believe.

It provides a good laugh to everyone else when you actually type it out.

[kwassa]

59. I think you don't know much about this subject ...

and engaging in personal insults will not make you smarter, either.

The idea that being "color blind" is racist is simple: those that think that color blind is an ideal are refusing to see the difference, which is of course absurd. Everyone sees color. Treating each person the same, the supposed "color blind" ideal, is woefully inadequate to understanding and rectifying racism in this country. It does nothing to address either institutional racism in the structure of this country, or address white privilege, the unseen advantage that whites still have.

[DesMoinesDem]

67. I suspect what you think you know about the subject is nonsense.

"Color blind is racist. Treating each person the same is woefully inadequate." LOL. The hits keep on coming.

[HuckleB]

75. You might want to explore the matter further.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/culturally-speaking/201112/colorblind-ideology-is-form-racism

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/color-blindness-is-counterproductive/405037/

http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/02/colorblindness-adds-to-racism/

[DesMoinesDem]

77. I couldn't care less what bullshit idiots are pushing today.

It's nonsense.

[HuckleB]

81. Are you sure you're on the right forum for you?

Your lack of curiosity and desire to understand is rather confounding.

[DesMoinesDem]

88. No lack of curiosity or desire to understand here.

I understand the subject quite well. 1 = 1. Just because some idiot says that 1 and 1 aren't equal and that you need to add to one side of the equation to make it equal doesn't mean I need to believe that bullshit. It seems you are not capable of independent thought. Do you always believe every idiotic thing that you read?

[HuckleB]

89. Well, you say one thing, but you're doing another.

So... you seem to think that defensiveness and attacking others with vague nonsense equates to "independent thought."

Whoops.

Nope.

Independent thinkers challenge their own preconceptions every day, and they try to understand the underlying thoughts and reasons for the thoughts of others. You are not doing that.

[1939]

91. I have a preconception

If I go into a vietnamese grocery store, there will be a preponderance of Asians in there and few whites or blacks. Is that racism or people pursuing what interests or does not interest them?

If I join a stamp collecting club, there may be, at most, a token number of blacks. Are they being excluded because of race?

All across the northern US there are many rural counties with black populations of 1% or 2%. Is that positive evidence of racism in action?

[kwassa]

102. and where do your preconceptions come from?

That is worth examining.

[1939]

149. Going into a lot of Vietnamese and Chinese groceries/gift shops/curio shops

My wife is Chinese/Vietnamese and very often i am the only white person in the store.

[kwassa]

163. Then there is no pre in your conception. Your evidence is empiric.

A preconception is an assumption about what a situation is going to be.

I frequent a Chinese restaurant. There are times when the rest of the clientele is entirely Chinese. I could think that is the only way the restaurant is. I have gone often enough, however, to see that there are also times when it is a very racially and ethnically mixed clientele in this restaurant. I can't assume that I will only find Chinese in this restaurant.

[1939]

167. No, but

The absence of diversity in a venue is no automatic proof of racism. Over the years, I have been involved in several special interest groups and the groups have been welcoming minority members, we never reached any significant number of minority members so that the membership of the group exactly mirrored outside society. We also never had a lot of female members, again just a few.

I grew up in an era of "ethnic" social clubs (Turnerverein, Polish-American, etc) and heir membership pretty much reflected the aims of the clubs.

[HuckleB]

103. Thanks for showing us that you don't really want to think about this issue.

Nicely done.

[kwassa]

90. No, just no understanding on your part, and no ability on your part to present an argument.

You can only throw insults.

I think you are on the wrong website. Free Republic is elsewhere.

[Odin2005]

194. You sound like a stereotypical "brogressive" from Reddit.

[yardwork]

115. You remind me of my state's governor.

That is not a compliment.

[TipTok]

140. I see color because I'm not blind but I don't care...

Last edited Wed May 4, 2016, 11:26 PM - Edit history (1)

Only actual racists care...

[kwassa]

144. You don't get it, either.

Willfully, I might add.

[TipTok]

146. I understand perfectly...

I just choose not to perpetuate racism.

[kwassa]

162. and how is racism being perpetuated?

this should be interesting.

[TipTok]

170. When you look at someone and make a determination about them just based on the color of their skin..

That is textbook racism.

Simple...

[kwassa]

171. Who is doing that? we are talking about the colorblind concept.

and how false it is, because it is not reality. Everyone sees color. The judgment after one sees the color is the problem,

[TipTok]

174. That's exactly what I said...

I see color because I have functioning eyeballs..

However, I don't let that tiny piece of information influence my judgement of and actions toward that person.

I judge them on merit alone. It is de facto colorblindness.


The way that this whole concept comes across is that everything I just said is a form of racism.

[Nye Bevan]

44. There are lots of people whose careers depend upon the continuing existence of racism.

People ignoring color is a threat to their livelihoods, so the solution is to classify being "color blind" as just another form of racism.

[kwassa]

53. My favorite minimizer of racial issues. Thank you for elucidating your thesis.

so, you don't like to use the term race hustler? That is popular with some.

There are lots of people whose careers depend upon the continuing existence of racism. People ignoring color is a threat to their livelihoods, so the solution is to classify being "color blind" as just another form of racism.

No, the term "color blind" prevents people from seeing issues related to color, and understanding their history and importance. Simply pretending one doesn't see color is delusional at best. Everyone sees color.

[HuckleB]

55. Good post.

Thanks for stating that so eloquently.

[DonCoquixote]

97. ok, that beign said

any idea on how to get more black people into the craft beer biz?

My two cents, it does not matter of you are a brewery or a pizza joint, if you open up in a neighborhood that is black, you should hire a black person if nothing else because you want to access the local customers. Do you really want to depend on the hipsters driving to you in their Prius?

As far as skill, that can be taught, and it is silly to think that the people that invented aspects of American cuisine (such as BBQ) will not take that same skill and in time, produce some truly damned great AA made beer.

Hell, if the talented people that invented true gems of American cuisine like BBQ and Soul Food were given a chance to make brands of beer, ooooh, the mouth waters.

[DonCoquixote]

110. hey good news

http://www.ebony.com/life/cheers-craft-beers-brewed-by-african-americans-gaining-popularity#axzz47juTuyu2

[kwassa]

136. yes, I found some articles like this I posted links to down at the bottom of this thread.

I was surprised by the large number of wineries.

[Dorian Gray]

183. It's funny

There are some big name chefs in NYC who love a Budweiser (almost icy frozen) when eating rich heavy foods (like ribs). David Chang (Momofuku fame) has written about this on his blog. Craft Beers have such strong hoppy tastes that they fight against foods sometimes. Sours can work better with a meal, and there is a great restaurant that has only a beer tasting menu with it's tasting menu. (Luksus, which is at the back of Torst, a great beer bar in Greenpoint.) But, it's difficult to pair IPAs or other strongly flavored craft beers with food, so some chefs claim bud is the way to go if you must have beer accompany your food.

[DonCoquixote]

184. Bud is just a weaker beer

All lagers are actually, because keep in mind they were invented for people who found the darker bocks and stouts too strong. However, There is a wide spectrum with beer, even dessert or wine like beers like Lambics (berry based). There are light crfat beers, and heavy craft beers.

[DesMoinesDem]

68. Yep.

[HuckleB]

106. Not really, no.

[wickerwoman]

147. So what is the "impact" of a particular minority generally choosing not to participate

in a particular hobby?

Do you see any barriers to participation?

If not, in what sense is the issue relevant to reducing racism?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

178. did you read the article?

it's not just about consumption, it's also about production. When there are production disparities it cannot easily be chalked up to preferences. Maybe, there is no there there. But, when we already see race having such disparate effects, there is always the need to see if there are structural barriers for black people to set up small business etc (which microbreweries are a small part of)

[vdogg]

5. I'm black and I love craft beer.

More so than my white friends tbh. That said, I've definitely noticed how I'm usually the only black person sitting at the bar.

[maxsolomon]

30. if i may inquire

do you have any opinions on the why or how of that?

is it the cost? is it the styles that are brewed? is it a perception of elitism?

as I remember from high school, my black friends liked beer just as much as I did. but we all drank crap because we were underage, broke, and had no choice!

[vdogg]

64. Cost and culture

The actual cost of getting into craft brewing can be prohibitive on the production side. You're generally talking about middle and upper middle class people who do it. Culturally, the craft beer fad started with hipsters, who are generally white. Just as you now have a growing black nerd and black gamer culture, I expect a larger portion of the black community will start to get into craft beer in the future (similar to the way white kids adopted hip hop, but in reverse).

[maxsolomon]

65. i'm not thinking about brewing it

I'm just wondering about drinking it. low-end craft 6 packs run around $7 - $8, but I rarely see 6 packs of corporate beer for less than $6.

I think I went to high school in a black nerd culture. in the late 70s.

[vdogg]

92. 1 or 2 dollars more is not that prohibitive.

I've seen plenty of blacks in high end restaurants, etc where drinks cost way more than that. If we're just talking about drinking the beer I'd say it's a cultural thing. It's just by and large not part of the black experience....yet.

[maxsolomon]

93. well, it's not much of a part of my experience anymore

its a LOT of carbs!

I think I drink maybe 2 beers a month.

[philosslayer]

197. Have you ever been harassed?

Or made to feel uncomfortable while at the bar? This could be part of the issue also.

[stone space]

7. When I got my PhD back in 1990, I suddenly found that I could afford good beer or bad wine.

Last edited Thu May 5, 2016, 01:33 AM - Edit history (1)

So I had a decision to make.

It was tough decision, but I made it.

The passage concludes with this sentence: “Most white people want to open a microbrewery at some point.”

Damn! They got me pegged!

Running a pizza place with a microbrewery attached would be an awesome second career!

Ale Sharpton

It's a long article, so I'll have to come back to it later.

Seems well worth the read.

Thanks!

[Cursive]

142. Yeah I stopped to laugh at that name too!

"Cruisin' For A Brewsin'"
I'm definitely bookmarking that blog.

[FLPanhandle]

14. If blacks are a tiny minority of craft beer drinkers, then this is not a surprise

According to the article...

"Black people don’t drink much craft beer

Nearly all craft beer brewers started out as craft beer drinkers, so it stands to reason that if there are to be black brewers, there would have to be black drinkers.

Turns out the latter are few and far between. A recent Nielsen study commissioned by the Brewers Association found that while black drinkers compose 11.2% of the US population, they consume only 3.7% of the country’s craft beer. Compare that with the 80% of craft beer guzzled by whites, who make up 60% of the population, and you’ll start to get a sense of the size of the divide"


-----------------------------------------------

More black craft beer drinkers, the more that will want to brew their own combinations, the more black brewers.

[KamaAina]

18. It's what we in $iliValley would call a "bootstrap problem"

White brewers brew styles that white customers like. Diversity might well add a whole new flavor palate to the industry. Mexico, for instance, has quite a brewing tradition of its own, exemplified by Negra Modelo, a tasty Vienna lager.

By contrast, as we learned during the Napa Valley Wine Train debacle, there are quite a few black-owned boutique wineries.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/104011367

[HuckleB]

21. Great story, thanks!

I don't bother with wine tasting, any more, but if I did...

[snooper2]

39. Problem with the brewers in Mexico is they don't have any good water

So, how in the fuck can they make good beer! Been a problem for a LONG time LOL

[KamaAina]

40. Well, not as much as the Northwest

but there is a Perrier competitor called Topo Chico that 7-Eleven used to have out here (Bay Area). Alas, Perrier (Nestle ) muscled it out of the fridge.

[skepticscott]

152. Sorry, but whatever the issue is, it's not diversity of styles

There are more styles and varieties of craft beer being brewed in the United States right now than anywhere at any time in the history of the world. Anyone who can't find a style they like simply hasn't troubled to look.

[Odin2005]

195. The video game industry has the same problem with regards to women gamers.

There are just as many female gamers as there are male gamers but the industry, Japanese developers especially, seems stuck in a "women don't play video games" mindset.

[nemo137]

15. Good read, thank you

I appreciate that housing segregation got a mention (as the source of more general career/lifestyle segregation).

Although, now I want a beer in the middle of my workday. I'll just have to grab one after I get out.

[Throd]

23. Maybe they know better than to waste nine bucks on a crappy IPA.

Not a lot of black people into death metal either. Not everything is a scandal.

[Codeine]

108. And no black guys AT ALL in Black Metal,

ironically.

[HuckleB]

116. Luckily, the same cannot be said for Black Violin.

[OriginalGeek]

123. Not a lot, true

but I do see a few black guys at nearly every show I go to. And I go to a lot.

[Nye Bevan]

24. I see threads like this as a very encouraging sign.

We've moved from slavery, to lynchings, Jim Crow, and segregation, to being so concerned about the relatively small number of black people who brew craft beer that people start threads on DU about it. In all caps, no less.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

25. continued segregation is what often leads to both big disparities (education) and minor disparities

(craft beer and other hipster products)

[jayschool]

27. Craft beer

It's about a variety of flavors and supporting local business. If you want to reduce it to name-calling, then that's being shallow.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

31. i am not name calling, it is a hipster movement, one that i approve/like

i like local business. the local businesses around me are all run by hipsters. this isn't a pejorative, it's a descriptive term.

[cyberswede]

60. I disagree that it's a "hipster movement"

Some hipsters may have glommed on to it, but it isn't "their" movement.

Boiling down passionate craft beer drinkers into a “hipster” stereotype makes my blood boil, because it’s simply not the case. Yes, while Pashman is making a larger point about beer snobbery – a bad habit of craft beer drinkers that I’ve harped on before – portraying the über-est of beer drinkers as “hipsters” is lazy. Worse, it alienates potential craft beer drinkers who see a negative connotation with the term. And the reality is that the demographics just don’t jive with craft beer consumers being anything resembling “hipster.”

http://brewyorknewyork.com/post/100005157298/is-craft-beer-a-hipster-trend

Point 2: We know people from all walks of life drink craft beer. Women drink it, minorities drink it, athletes drink it, nerds drink it. But OK, if I were to stereotype the average craft beer drinker it wouldn’t be a hipster. What would it be? An older white guy. Yep, an older white guy with a 67% chance of having a beer belly.

This conflicts with the media portrayal of the craft beer drinker, but that’s been my real-life experience. Granted I come from the homebrewing world so my experience may be skewed. But what’s this?

http://homebrewacademy.com/craft-beer-hipsters/

I have personally been interested in craft beer since the late 1980s when I first visited a McMenamins brew pub in Portland.

[HuckleB]

63. Yeah, I'm not sure about that theory either.

It really doesn't make sense. Interestingly, hipsters in Portland drank Rainier pounders until the company died. Now they drink Pabst. They seem to have an aversion to good beer.

[Odin2005]

196. Because drinking shit beer is "ironic".

Seriously, hipsters have driven the irony thing into the fucking ground. I swear it has become a way to rationalize their political beliefs with middle class consumerism. As rural working class person it looks ridiculous to me.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

85. Fair point

[TransitJohn]

191. THANK YOU!

I was going nuts reading this thread wherein everybody keeps saying craft beer/brewing is a hipster thing.

[1939]

36. Except that the whitest areas in the US

are often areas where craft beer and hipsterism is the least popular.

[snooper2]

41. What about coffee? Black People Don’t Drink Coffee

’m generalizing, of course. Yes, I realize you have a black friend who drinks a lot of coffee. You’ve even seen him drink coffee with your own eyes—many times. But I’m talking about trends here. And the trend is that relative to their Caucasian oppressors, black people don’t drink as much coffee as white people do. According to this super-special government document, white American adults drink about three times as much coffee as blacks.

That seems unfair.

Why the disparity? Why the persistent and seemingly ineradicable coffee inequality? If one were so inclined, one could fairly describe American blacks as “coffee-deprived.” They’re a “coffee-underserved population.” You might even allege that urban blacks live in “coffee deserts.”

Please share this article by using the link below. When you cut and paste an article, Taki's Magazine misses out on traffic, and our writers don't get paid for their work. Email [e-mail] to buy additional rights. http://takimag.com/article/black_people_dont_drink_coffeeJim_goad/print#ixzz47i96nPmX

[HooptieWagon]

28. There's many microbreweries and craft beer bars in my area.

There's plenty of AA customers. The author of the article might be observing only their neighborhood.
I can't claim knowledge of AAs on the brewing side, but then it takes a fair amount of capital to start a microbrewery. There are a number of women getting into the business...it might just be a matter of time until minorities do.

[worstexever]

29. I actually prefer to drink Mexican beer

in Mexico. If Trump wins in the GE, someone will need to build a wall...to keep me in!

[KamaAina]

32. !Bienvenidos al DU!

[OriginalGeek]

129. I'm hoping to find some in July

We're going to Cozumel and Belize on a cruise for our 30th anniversary. I already love Negra Modelo but I wanna find stuff I couldn't get in the US. Might be hard since I'll mostly be in touristy areas but I'm excited for the challenge! lol

[worstexever]

168. Look for Victoria beer

The Mexican beers are all lagers, some better than other. A crisp, cold lager is good on a warm, humid day. Enjoy!!

[OriginalGeek]

182. That's going on the list!

thanks!

[hibbing]

34. Interesting post, thanks for the article n/t

[bluedigger]

46. I was looking for a good specialty malt liquor just the other day and couldn't find anything.

[Throd]

47. Olde English 800 never disappoints me.

Just make sure it's good and cold.

[bluedigger]

54. We always went for the Green Monster (Haffenreffer) in my neck of the woods.

[mikeysnot]

48. Depends on where you live....

These guys are brewers here in Chicago. Their Porter is good, had it at Oak Park Beer Fest.

http://www.vicedistrictbrewing.com/about/

Agree my friends prefer lagers and hard liquor, things are changing.

Saw more diverse crowd at this years Dark Lord Day than the one in 2011.

[HuckleB]

50. That's good to see!

[nemo137]

52. I'll have to see if I can find it.

Thanks!

Edit: And they do an ESB and an English-style session ale? Sold.

[elias7]

51. people who don't know craft beers don't know what they're missing

I drink strictly American style IPA's, high on hops, low on malt, and find myself gagging on the insipidness of standard beers such as bud, coors or even molson.

[romanic]

56. Location, location.

If a craft brewery is located in a mostly white area, ofc the customers are going to be mostly white. You can't force a minority population to like something a majority of whites like in a white majority area to be "diverse". Here in the Metro Detroit area, we've had several of these pop up in the city and around the suburbs. I went to one and saw several Asian, black and Latino customers drinking good beer with their white peers.

This is such a non-story and another race-baiting "alarmist" piece intended to stir up racial tension. I'm not buying it.

[HuckleB]

58. It doesn't appear that you even read the first paragraph.

So I'm not sure how you can make the rest of your "assessment," which is rather defensive in nature.

[Kaleva]

122. I prefer forming an opinion without reading the article in question.

It's a time saver.

[HuckleB]

127. It is a time saver!!!

[cali]

61. Hill Farmstead. The hippest beer of them all

with a grouchy philosophy major hipster owner.

[HuckleB]

62. Why is the American story of nature and conservation so white?

https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2014/06/20/hiking-while-black-the-untold-story-black-people-great-outdoors/ssRvXFYogkZs2e4RX3z6JP/story.html

[KamaAina]

66. This is already becoming a DU classic!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027802626#post23

[Nye Bevan]

72. Not quite "spiderwoman's ass" yet, though.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025431864

That one was such a classic I even got a post hidden because of it:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5465953

[name not needed]

73. I don't drink craft beer with you.

[HuckleB]

74. Hmm.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

95. Wait until door buzzards drink craft beer n/m

[Blue_Tires]

69. I don't drink personally, so there's that...

[virgogal]

76. With all of the problems in this country you are worried about this?

Beer is just beer.

[HuckleB]

79. It's more of a discussion of why some areas are not integrated.

I'm not sure why that bothers you.

[tymorial]

78. Thank you for posting this.

[On the Road]

80. I Had a Suitemate in College from Nigeria

He once said that before tasting a new American food, he would reassure himself by saying "Well, it won't be bitter."

I do not believe he is inclined towards craft beers.

[Odin2005]

198. The obsession with IPAs is getting ridiculous, IMO.

[OkSustainAg]

82. I learned to make homade wine,

beer, mead and shine from older Cherokee men and women decades ago. Way before all this hipster stuff. There just bringing back people already have done.

[HuckleB]

84. Cool.

Except what makes your experience less hipster than others?

You do realize that the craft beer business got its start largely from people who served in Europe in the military, and became acquainted with high quality, and varied beer types. They came back and decided to try to replicate that. I don't see how that's "hipster" in any way, shape, or form.

[OkSustainAg]

86. That's the ones I'm talking about.

Sorry I'm old. Hahaha.

[HuckleB]

87. That doesn't come close to answering my question.

And it certainly doesn't justify your bizarre labeling attempt.

Or are you saying that people who decide to take the time to learn a craft because they enjoy the resulting product are hipsters?

Because that would be a new definition, by far.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

96. All beer tastes like goat piss

Drink that with a straw, DU

[kwassa]

99. So, you have experience drinking goat piss.

Interesting hobby.

[Codeine]

105. That's only the goats who chew wild Belgian yeasts

and dine exclusively on four-row barley and Chinook and Warrior hops. Each goat is only good for about a pint a day, so it's the smallest of small batch brewing.

[HuckleB]

109. I think you mean goat cheese matched with a fine Imperial Stout.

[kwassa]

100. Black-Owned Craft Beer Company Gets Premium Placement in Wal-Mart

Harlem has a special place in the American imagination when it comes to culture, art and music. But would you also imagine small-batch beer? Well.

The Harlem Brewing Co. is a 15-year-old microbrewery founded in its namesake New York community. In March the company will be stocking its wares front and center in 39 Wal-Mart stores across the state.

“I hope it turns into a Patti-pies situation,” Celeste Beatty, owner of Harlem Brewing, said, laughing, during a phone call with The Root.

Beatty got onto Wal-Mart’s radar after an exec saw her on an MSNBC segment with Tamron Hall. She says that people were also calling the retailer and asking for the brand—which currently includes Sugar Hill Golden Ale, Harlem Renaissance Wit and Strawberry Hard Cider—by name. With the Wal-Mart deal, Beatty says she expects sales to increase by as much as 20 percent.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2016/02/black_owned_micro_brewing_company_gets_premium_placement_in_wal_mart.html

[kwassa]

101. Blacks in Wine, Beer and Spirits

There is a long list of black-owned wineries here, and four black-owned breweries. I was surprised by all the wineries, actually, I had no idea.


http://www.cuisinenoirmag.com/black-wineries-and-winemakers-around-the-world

[Bucky]

111. if there were more blacks into microbrewing, would that be cultural appropriation?

[HuckleB]

114. I can only hope that you think this is a joke.

Regardless, come on. Not cool.

[Bucky]

117. How is that not funny?

Name me someone I've offended.

[HuckleB]

118. Derp.

Ignorance is not an excuse.

[Bucky]

119. telling me I'm ignorant of something and then passing up a chance to inform me...

what would you call that?

[HuckleB]

120. I'd call that a chance for you to back off an explore the issues.

Take it. (Oh, and to figure out why making a "joke" out of cultural appropriation is not ok. That shouldn't be too hard.)

[U4ikLefty]

190. I would call it their MO.

The most they can muster are blue links and accusations of ignorance.

[Codeine]

121. Weak sauce.

But in your defense, your sigline has been making giggle for months.

[Bucky]

124. hmmm

maybe it's time for me to change it then



I was thinking about this one, only I found Hitch to be kind of obnoxious at times

[Depaysement]

125. There were three people in the bar?

Not much of a search.

Of course, craft beers are so over in Brooklyn. They were old like 5 years ago. That might be part of it.

There are some brothers and sisters in the whiskey saloons here in my community. Disproportionately small, though, for a predominantly black neighborhood.

[HuckleB]

128. Of course, you could have read the piece instead of just a few sentences.

[Depaysement]

131. You could have read my entire post

And not just the first three words?

[HuckleB]

132. Nice try.

[Depaysement]

133. Time for me to find another poster to join

Chuckleheads on ignore!



I wonder who it will be . . .

[HuckleB]

135. Cool.

Next time, you might want to try posting before you drink a craft brew.

[denbot]

141. You'll see Blacks and Latinos at the two micro breweries nearest to me.

5-8 miles to the north is Three Weavers Brewery, one of the few woman owned, and operated brewery's. About 5 miles to the south is Smog City Brewery.

Both locations have a pretty diverse crowd on any given evening. The Los Angeles area is fairly diverse to began with, and recreation is no exception.

This last weekend my wife and I attended the California Home Brew Festival, Over all you have a point regarding actual minority participation in the actual brewing process is under represented, but this is changing.

[fizzgig]

143. interesting read

i live in a city renowned for its craft breweries and the answer to this question in my neck of the woods is that there are hardly any black people here period. 150k or so population, one percent identifies as black.

[U4ikLefty]

145. It's not a true craft beer unless it's GMO-free.

SCIENCE!!!

[jmowreader]

148. Could it be the "$9 stout" part?

Here's a broad-brush generalization for ya: IME African Americans do not enjoy heavy beer. They REALLY like quality pilseners and lagers; white people are the ones drinking IPA and stout.

OTOH, the lion's share of craft beer on the shelf is either IPA or stout - because it's easier to make a good heavy beer than a good light one and you need a hell of a lot less equipment to do a top-fermented brew. Do this test: Go to the nearest place to your house that sells craft beer and count the varieties not made by Anheuser-Busch. It'll be like "IPA...IPA...stout...two more IPAs...three stouts...Scotch ale...a porter...a pale ale..."

If it is true that craft beer brewers start out as craft beer drinkers, and it is also true that most craft beers are of beer species black people generally do not enjoy drinking, how exactly are you going to convert black people into craft brewers?

[Odin2005]

199. Interesting, is there any particular reason for African-Americans prefering lagers?

[jmowreader]

201. Maybe it's that they're not British or Irish?

I urge everyone who loves craft beer to go to continental Europe for a week or two in the summer months, and stay the hell out of "Irish Pubs." On the Continent, Starkbier (strong beer, aka Bockbier) and Dunklebier (dark beer) is only for winter. Hellesbier (light beer, like Pilsener) and Weizenbier (wheat beer) are for summer. Make sure you only drink beer "vom Fass" - on tap.

In England and Ireland they drink strong beer all year round...which should tell you something about the weather out there.

[Odin2005]

202. Thanks!

[whistler162]

150. I would say it is proof of the intelligence difference

between Whites and African-Americans. Most African-Americans are obviously smarter than us Whites since they haven't succumbed to the notion of expensive beer. Of course the exception are breweries like Black Frog or Harlem Brewing Company.

What next people going crazy over rocks they keep as pets?

[Bad Dog]

151. We don't have microbreweries over here.

We have independent brewers, supported by the rise of CAMRA back in the 60s/70s. For a long time American beer was seen as naff, but not any more.

Why are there no black people? They're probably too cool.

[T_i_B]

154. We have loads of microbreweries!

There are two within a mile and a half of where I live. We do use the same term as our US friends, although "craft beer" is even more of a wishy washy term here than it is in the states.

And yes, I am an active CAMRA member. I was out judging Derbyshire CAMRA Pub of the year on Saturday as it happens.

[Bad Dog]

156. We don't call them that.

They're independent breweries. There's one down the road in Winchester, not very big, just a couple of units on an industrial estate. Last time I went there I never heard the term microbrewery uttered even once.

From their website.

Red Cat Brewing is a small independent brewery in Winchester that was set up with the singular aim of creating imaginative, stunning craft beer.

http://www.redcatbrewing.co.uk/about-us/

And yes, I am being bloody pedantic.

[T_i_B]

157. Some do call themselves micro breweries

Some also make a big thing of being "craft", others shy away from the term.

There's a huge variety of breweries out there. In my local area you've got everything from ultra-hip key-keg peddlers like Lost Industry to very traditional community owned ventures like Drone Valley.

[Bad Dog]

158. Someone needs to have a word with them.

And tell them this is England, not America.

You could do that if you want. I'm sure they'll be very grateful.

[T_i_B]

160. I quite like a lot of the US wannabes

The likes of Magic Rock and Siren Craft do happen to produce some seriously tasty beers.

Even if some breweries (Brewdog being the obvious one) can be very irritating with their imitations of the US scene.

[Bad Dog]

161. The bloke who runs the beer shop in Southampton. (It's like an offie, but only sells beer,)

tells me that American beer is not at all subtle. If it says hoppy it's really hoppy, if it says IPA it's a really strong IPA.

It's all good though.

[T_i_B]

164. Often the case

Last edited Thu May 5, 2016, 02:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Although there are all sorts of beers coming out of the States these days, and plenty of UK breweries like Arbor who make beer that's about even less subtle than US imports.

I'm not sure who the breweries with the big reputation in your area are. Darkstar and Siren Craft aren't too far away though.

[Bad Dog]

165. The biggest independent brewery around here is in Ringwood.

[T_i_B]

172. The biggest one near me is Thornbridge

Much more modern, contemporary and lauded brewery located out in the Peak District. Their flagship IPA "Jaipur" has been hugely influential in the development of the UK beer scene. They have also done collaboration beers with Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery. The hugely talented and influential black brewmaster I mentioned elsewhere on this thread.

I haven't drunk anything from Ringwood for yonks as quite frankly, they don't make the sort of beers people in this neck of the world want to drink. It's all about the new world hops round here!

[Bad Dog]

173. There are definite regional differences.

We're right next door to cider country as well. A friend on mine lives in a part of Somerset where the local pub's most popular pint is Scrumpy and Vimto. I kid ye not. It's quite a sight to see some old boys with a load of purple pints.

[T_i_B]

175. Some of the best Breweries in Britain are in that area

In Avon & Somerset you've got the likes of Arbor, Bristol Beer Factory, Wiper & True, Moor and Wild Beer Co. All of whom are excellent.

I do definitely think that the trend towards hoppy US style beer is happening in all regions of Britain right now, although it's most pronounced in the big cities like Leeds and Manchester.

[Bad Dog]

177. I've noticed a hoppier trend.

I drink as much Continental beer as English though. With the trend for seasonal beers there's usually a good deal on end of season lines at the beer shop. That's when I tend to go for American stuff.

[T_i_B]

179. That trend has been going for a few years now.

Currently we are seeing more beers with odd ingredients like vanilla and grapefruit.

There's actually a bit of a Hop shortage out there at present.

[Bad Dog]

180. There's always the other member of the hop family.

Cannabis, (there's always plenty of that about.) Failing that wormwood, I once read that's why beer was called bitter.

[T_i_B]

203. One other thing about Thornbridge...

...is that the chap who owns the brewery has a wife who has been involved in political scandal as she used to run A4E!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1088411

[Bad Dog]

204. I'd forgotten all about that.

Amazing how it gets lost amongst all the other crap they get up to. I had four beers last night, ending the evening off with a Wild Beer madness IPA and a Siren undercurrent oatmeal pale ale. They were all very nice, so thanks for the heads up.

[Bad Dog]

187. We've also got Badger.

Just down the road in Dorset. I had one of these last night.



Then I had one of these.



Both of which were bought from Asda. I rounded it off with something a bit pokier from the beer shop.



Then I went to bed.

As a CAMRA judge do you have any recommendations? I'm always keen to try out new beers.

[T_i_B]

188. Bristol Beer Factory beers

Consistently excellent across a wide variety of beer styles.

I'm wearing a Siren Craft T-shirt right now, so that's another brewery I'm a huge fan of, although some of their beers can be VERY experimental. The Caribbean Chocolate Cake Stout is guaranteed to put a smile across your face.

Wild Beer Co are also good for experimental beers, although they do specialise in sour beers.

Kernel are worth mentioning as well. Unbeatable for pale ales and IPA's.

The best beer I've had this year is Wierd Beard Dark Hopfler. A 2.5% dark beer that defies all description.

[Bad Dog]

189. Thank you.

I've cut and pasted your post to word so I can find it easily next time I go to the beer shop. Earlier on you mentioned Darkstar. I have had it, it's very good. They sell it at a really tiny pub, too tiny even for a bar, the waiter(s), sometimes there's as many as two, carries out all transactions in his apron. It used to be a butchers shop.

[Bad Dog]

192. Went to the beer shop today.

The owner said you've got good taste. I've just had the Bristol Beer factory Southville hop, and it's really good. I'm going to have a Siren Peligrosos IPA next. Btw, I had a Ringwood boondoggle on draught a couple of weeks ago, and it wasn't half bad, admittedly not as good as the beer I've just had, but still quite drinkable all the same.

[w4rma]

153. Cultural differences. There aren't any economic barriers on this topic. (nt)

[T_i_B]

155. Garrett Oliver?

Brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery. He's black, and brews outstanding beer. Very commercially successful too. I've even met him a couple of times as he's on very good terms with Thornbridge brewery, who are local to me.

Brooklyn are the one US brewery exporting to the UK whose beers I make a point of point of drinking. Brooklyn Sorachi Ace is especially brilliant.

[hatrack]

166. Interesting article - thank you!

[HuckleB]

181. Any time!

[winetourdriver]

176. Few do wine tasting as well

I drive people around on wine tasting tours in Napa and Sonoma counties in northern California. It's mostly white professionals, with increasing numbers of Asians, but very few black people. I wonder if it's the same dynamic at work.

[KamaAina]

186. Maybe they're worried about a repeat of the Napa Valley Wine Train fiasco

[Odin2005]

200. Super-interesting article, not something I really thought about, before!

Thanks, Huck!