From May 12-18, beer lovers everywhere will toast the country’s craft beer renaissance during the ninth annual celebration of American Craft Beer Week (ACBW). With more than 2,800 small and independent craft breweries and hundreds more popping up across the country every year, the observance of ACBW is more significant than ever before. Across all 50 states, craft beer lovers, breweries, wholesalers and retailers will celebrate the culture and community of craft beer.
“American Craft Beer Week allows everyone to honor and toast the hard work and success of the craft beer community,” says Julia Herz, publisher of CraftBeer.com and craft beer program director at the Brewers Association (BA). “Against many odds, craft brewers have used grassroots efforts to grow the industry one glass, one bottle, one can, one keg, one growler and one customer at a time.”
New this year, ACBW celebrates the many faces of craft beer. Presented in a video montage, brewers from all 50 states have united by taking “selfies” to best represent their brewery and state. All are encouraged to take their own “selfies” with craft beer from small and independent brewers and post on social media using #ACBW to help celebrate the week.
The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) was among the groups to toast the nationwide beer week.
“Craft beer continues to provide a significant contribution to the American beer industry and the overall economy,” says NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser. “NBWA is proud of the role that independent beer distributors play to help the craft beer industry thrive. The tremendous growth in craft beer sales underscores the excitement of independent beer distributors in partnering with America’s craft brewers to help them reach a wide network of retailers and increase their value.”
“This success is due in large part to the effectiveness of the independent distribution system that allows access to market for brewers of all sizes and a state-based regulatory system that works to level the playing field between brewers, distributors and retailers,” Purser continues. “When it comes to market access, brewers have more routes to market than ever before. Thanks to thousands of different distribution channels, today’s marketplace offers an unparalleled number of styles, varieties and flavors of beer to consumers from coast to coast. American Craft Beer Week is a great opportunity to celebrate this variety.”
NBWA and the BA will present the Eighth Annual Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award on October 4, 2014, at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado. The award recognizes an American beer distributor who goes above and beyond in their efforts to actively market, sell and promote craft beer. In addition to the Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award, a Craft Beer Distributor Achievement Award (first runner-up) and a Craft Beer Distributor Recognition Award (second runner-up) will be presented. Nominations must be submitted by July 11, 2014.
