Prohibition

[zitothebrave]

As a booze enthusiast (booziast?) I love learnign as much as possible about breweries and things of that nature.

What strikes me is that breweries pre-prohibition were much more diverse. I believe the high was about 4000 breweries. Because of prohibition closing most non-large breweries, and then further consolidation and by the 70s there was only like 50 breweries in America. Then Jimmy Carter repealed the ban on homebrewing and it lead to the start of the modern microbrewing. And we've just now reached the same levels as we were 140 years ago.

Same basic thing with wines. Before prohibition there were about 140 wineries in Napa Valley, after a root blight and prohibition there were only a few that existed. It wasn't until the 70s that they regained their previous status.

 

[jpx7]

I don't have the numbers, but you can added small batch or "craft" distillers to the list of industries finally in full-recovery after Prohibition and accompanying consolidation.

It's also not just California, vis-à-vis wine. Arizona actually had some legitimate small-scale winemaking before the state's 1915 state-level dry movements—and even after that movement's success, in fact, with Yavapai (my county) and Cochise county (east of Tuscon) electing to stay wet. The central (Yavapai) and eastern (Cochise) highlands of Arizona are actually extremely Mediterranean and extremely well-suited to growing Mediterranean grapes (think Rhône, Spanish, and central Italian grapes). Those aforementioned wet holdouts could not withstand Federal Prohibition, sadly, and winemaking in Arizona did not really rebound until about fifteen years ago; it didn't full recover until about five years ago.

 

[zitothebrave]

Yup.

Prohibition only ever benefitted a few people, the big breweries (though that was a slowburn) and the crime lords (and the politicians who were in their pocket)

I forget where I was reading stuff on distillation but most states it was still illegal. Hell I got a notice from NJ's Craft Brewery fan page that just now they're introducing a bill to make Cidery and meadery legal in NJ again. I assumed they had been because how the **** weren't they legal since they're basically the same thing as wine, though I guess legally they aren't. If it becomes legal there's a sweet apple orchard who also makes wine, I bet they'll put out some rad Ciders. And central Jersey has a lot of Apiaries who I'm sure will be all over mead.

Honestly to me I'm glad I turned 21 when I did. It was right on the bubble of the craft explosion. And aside from NJ itself, in a great place with my proximity to NY, PA, MD and DE to a lot of quality breweries. I didn't have to live in a world where I couldn't get Victory, Troegs, Dogfish, Brooklyn, etc. because they weren't distributing yet, and I was just turning 23 or so when the NJ scene started taking off so I really got to enjoy the rise of Carton and Kane.

 

[weso1]

Are we using the phrase "booze enthusiast" in place of alcoholic these days?

 

[jpx7]

Are we using the phrase "booze enthusiast" in place of alcoholic these days?

Only when you speak easy like us, son.

 

[Carp]

Speaking of beer, Yeehaw brewery out of Jefferson City, Tennessee has a nice lineup of beers, starting with their Dunkel, which is their flagship beer. Highly recommended if you're down this way.

 

[zitothebrave]

Speaking of beer, Yeehaw brewery out of Jefferson City, Tennessee has a nice lineup of beers, starting with their Dunkel, which is their flagship beer. Highly recommended if you're down this way.

And my favorite part of the craft beer scene is that it's getting more local. More states are doing what Vermont does, small distribution with limited overhead. Lets you live a happy and comfortable life if your brewery is successful, without the risk of failing because you grew too big. Also lets you enjoy the freshest beer possible. Which with some styles doesn't really matter, but with APAs and IPAs it certainly does.