“…it really is up to the brewery and the beer fans to be personally mindful about nurturing our beer scene”

Sometimes, we are caught in very challenging circumstances and it really is up to the brewery and the beer fans to be personally mindful about nurturing our beer scene. With that said, I truly feel that the general consensus amongst our California brewing community is one of solidarity. Sure, each brewery is a business and they must do what is best for themselves, but we are in a crucial educational period where we are also looking at the bigger picture of why it’s so important to band together. I often make the joke that sometimes it’s the consumers that are more competitive (or shitty) in our industry than the brewers themselves. The hype train has brought some people in that don’t get the whole community aspect of our industry and it’s disappointing. I’m not saying that it’s bad to wait in a line at a beer release, take photos of your haul, or to trade beers with friends – but, for God’s sake, drink the fucking beer and don’t be an asshole. Is that so much to ask?

Frances Michelle Lopez, as quoted in Daniel Drennon, “Unity. Now More Than Ever.”, Beer Paper (June 2017), 13.