A Summary of Volume 1: The Rise of Breweries and Distilleries in the United States

Abstract

The final chapter serves as summary to the first volume of Beers, Ciders & Spirits: Craft Beverages and Tourism in the U.S. entitled The Rise of Brewers and Distilleries in the United States. The chapters that are encapsulated in the first volume of this textbook present innovative examples of the craft beveragescape within the US context. This conclusion chapter summarizes the current practices and scope of research involving craft beer, cider and spirits as a substantial subsect of craft and entrepreneurial small and medium enterprises that are emerging across the country. The pioneering chapters summarized include craft beverage topics in locations such as Washington, Oregon, Kentucky, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, West Virginia and North Carolina. Influences of historical legislative restriction and current neoliberalism are examined within the rebirth of localized beer, cider and spirit production. Along with a multitude of nuanced ideas involving economic vibrancy, there are four primary themes that have emerged from this first volume include: (a) the interdisciplinary of the craft beveragescape, (b) the evolution of the craft-turn in beverage production, (c) the role of co-creation for innovation, and (d) community redevelopment and socio-cultural place making. This summary chapter concludes with an introduction to the forthcoming second volume entitled Environmental and Social Trends and Marketing Implications.