There was once a time when microbreweries were seen as something that was a niche stop — something cool and interesting to visit for a casual date night, a place to try unique flavors that differed from place to place. However, it feels like there’s a new brewery popping up every other week. Brewery food has become almost as recognizable as the beer itself. The charm and appeal of small-batch breweries have given way to a sense of uniformity, when the whole appeal of the industry was built on individuality to begin with.
A landscape for breweries has been built within this city, and you can’t look at a list of restaurants without one appearing. But have we reached a point as a city where breweries have become just one after another? Has the concept of microbreweries lost the shimmer and sparkle they once had to beer fans? We can take a look at the state of breweries and only wonder what their future can hold.
The first commercial brewery opened in Iowa in 1844. Since then, the Midwest has become a behemoth for beer and brewing. Iowa finds itself in the center of three states that are heavily involved with the brewing world. Companies such as Anheuser-Busch and Molson Coors Beverage Company are some of the biggest brands based in the Midwest. Local brews such as New Glarus Brewing Company and Constellation Brands are based in the Midwest and are also seen as popular due to their independent nature and unique flavors.
Beer has long been a part of Midwestern identity, thanks to its deep German roots. But the recent explosion of microbreweries has turned a cultural tradition into an all-out industry.
While the market is strong now, it will only continue to grow. Is it possible for the market to become oversaturated very quickly? This is something I think many states could be headed towards. Similar to many trending markets, when something starts to become saturated too quickly, the demand will steadily decrease. Many businesses understand that the beer market is huge right now and want to get a piece of that pie.
I feel breweries are headed towards where many new and innovative ideas often head. They start as something fresh and interesting, an idea that is refreshing and often community-driven. It then gets noticed, it pulls people in and grabs their attention, and as more and more people try to capitalize on the appeal, the idea slowly starts to lose authenticity and the magic that once drew those people in in the first place. It’s a tricky line to walk across.
On one hand, the brewery industry is incredibly important to our food industry and economy. On the other hand, if it continues to progress on the rapid incline that the market is currently on, there’s a risk that it could aid in the decline of the brewery industry.
