Buy Local and Celebrate American Craft Beer Week

‘Tis the season, but before you grab a sixer of your favorite foamy brew, try going local! It’s American Craft Beer Week across the country and all 50 states are celebrating.
Prior to 1980 your beer choices were few; it came down to one of the “Big Three” or a handful of expensive imports. Today, thanks to the craft beer explosion, there are more than 3,000 small, independent breweries scattered across this great beer-swilling nation of ours with the majority of Americans living not 10 miles from a local brew pub.
Not to suggest you spend an inordinate amount of time in search of an icy cold one, but if you are of the mind to partake of that amber elixir, craft brews can provide tremendous sipping pleasure.
You noticed I said sipping — not guzzling — and therein lies the beauty of the small-batch beer. Mass-produced beers, especially those marketed as low-carb, often fail to satisfy. Before you know it you’ve knocked back four only to be rewarded with a hefty bar tab and another trip to the bathroom.
Craft beers’ unique flavor is often derived from more than mere yeast, hops and barley. Today’s brew-chefs use innovative ingredients, like fruits, nuts, spices and chocolate to create complex flavors, which beg to be savored, especially when paired with food.
Forget about calories or carbs and go for taste instead. I guarantee, a single creamy, hoppy Pale Ale will satisfy that beer craving and save you money (not to mention calories) in the long run. Not that you’re drinking for nutritional content, but craft brews usually provide additional antioxidants, soluble fiber and more vitamin B than mass-produced beer.
Thomas Jefferson once said, “Beer, if drank with moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit, and promotes health.” I say, Hear! Hear! Tommy boy!
If you are going to imbibe, make it worth your while. Don’t waste your time or money on a watered-down 55-calorie wannabe beer. Gosh, at that point you may as well just drink straight water.
Get city proud, support your local independent brewers and celebrate American Craft Beer Week.
Do you have a favorite local brewer? I live near the state line, so I have the best of both worlds: in Missouri, check out KC Bier Company and in Kansas you can’t beat Free State Brewing Company. —Karen