Overflowing with Beers
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The Brewers Association recently released a midyear report that, among other things, says that the number of U.S. breweries is at its highest in 100 years.
The chief reason has to do with the incredible number of craft breweries that have popped up in recent years. Foothills in Winston-Salem and Red Oak in Whitsett are just two examples of small companies that are crafting very individual styles of beers.
Walk into City Beverage on Burke Street and check out the second room they added a couple of years ago. It’s stacked high with tons of craft beer with unusual names, unusual bottles, unusual flavors and sometimes unusually high prices.
City Bev also keeps a changing selection of distinctive ones on tap, too.
Fans of craft beer are getting really into this, sometimes sniffing, swirling and describing beers like wine lovers do.
The association’s report says that growth in craft beers has slowed, but they are still growing—up 5 percent in the first half of 2009. Production for the first half is at 4.2 million barrels, compared to 4 million barrels sold in the first half of 2008.
If you haven’t tried the many craft beers, some of whom have flavors of orange, chocolate, molasses and more, check them out.
