National craft beer Archives Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:57:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://brilliantstream.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cropped-BeerFlag-5-32x32.jpg National craft beer Archives 32 32 Charles Bockway & Erin McCoy false episodic Charles Bockway & Erin McCoy info@brilliantstream.com podcast National craft beer Archives https://brilliantstream.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WVBR-NewArt-1920px487KB.jpeg https://brilliantstream.com/west-virginia-beer-roads/ West Virginia, United States West Virginia, United States Cleveland Rocks https://brilliantstream.com/2026/07/cleveland-rocks/ https://brilliantstream.com/2026/07/cleveland-rocks/#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:48:25 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=276155 Whoa. Who would have thought I’d have so much fun visiting Cleveland, Ohio — but I did. That city gave me a great little craft beer vacation. The city of Cleveland hasn’t always gotten a lot of love over the… Continue Reading…

The post Cleveland Rocks appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2026/07/cleveland-rocks/feed/ 2 World Beer Cup awards medals for 2026 https://brilliantstream.com/2026/04/world-beer-cup-awards-medals-for-2026/ https://brilliantstream.com/2026/04/world-beer-cup-awards-medals-for-2026/#respond Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:57:51 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=274443 The World Beer Cup® (WBC), called the world’s most prestigious beer competition, celebrated three decades of brewing excellence by awarding 353 medals to breweries and cideries across the globe. The announcements took place in Philadelphia yesterday. Organized by the Brewers… Continue Reading…

The post World Beer Cup awards medals for 2026 appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2026/04/world-beer-cup-awards-medals-for-2026/feed/ 0 WV’s most awarded beer does it again https://brilliantstream.com/2025/10/wvs-most-awarded-beer-does-it-again/ https://brilliantstream.com/2025/10/wvs-most-awarded-beer-does-it-again/#respond Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:53:24 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=270353 West Virginia currently has what could arguably be America’s best Robust Porter. Seriously. How so, you ask? Anytime a West Virginia brewery can send a beer all the way out to Denver to America’s top and toughest beer competition and… Continue Reading…

The post WV’s most awarded beer does it again appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2025/10/wvs-most-awarded-beer-does-it-again/feed/ 0 Gacioch gives the goods https://brilliantstream.com/2025/05/gacioch-gives-the-goods/ https://brilliantstream.com/2025/05/gacioch-gives-the-goods/#comments Fri, 30 May 2025 16:10:00 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=268489 Data points, trends, and analysis—we can’t get enough of it when the subject is craft beer. At the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference, the presentation by Brewers Association Staff Economist Matt Gacioch was chock full of good info and analysis of… Continue Reading…

The post Gacioch gives the goods appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2025/05/gacioch-gives-the-goods/feed/ 1 Watson addresses industry with confidence https://brilliantstream.com/2025/05/watson-addresses-industry-with-confidence/ https://brilliantstream.com/2025/05/watson-addresses-industry-with-confidence/#respond Thu, 29 May 2025 14:47:58 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=268480 As Bart Watson hits the middle of his first year as Brewers Association (BA) president, I was most curious to learn how he sees the current state of the craft beer industry (mid-2025). I got a good read on that… Continue Reading…

The post Watson addresses industry with confidence appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2025/05/watson-addresses-industry-with-confidence/feed/ 0 Double digit growth no more https://brilliantstream.com/2023/05/double-digit-growth-no-more/ https://brilliantstream.com/2023/05/double-digit-growth-no-more/#respond Wed, 24 May 2023 17:16:49 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=256713 The days of a double-digit annual growth rate for craft beer appear to be a thing of the past. That was the observation by Bart Watson, chief economist with the Brewers Association (BA). Craft beer, which experienced double digit growth… Continue Reading…

The post Double digit growth no more appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2023/05/double-digit-growth-no-more/feed/ 0 Big Timber medals at World Beer Cup https://brilliantstream.com/2023/05/big-timber-medals-at-world-beer-cup/ https://brilliantstream.com/2023/05/big-timber-medals-at-world-beer-cup/#respond Thu, 11 May 2023 06:20:57 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=256463 A big congratulations is due Big Timber Brewing of Elkins, WV, for taking home its first medal at the prestigious World Beer Cup, which took place in Nashville. Big Timber Porter won the bronze medal at the competition in the… Continue Reading…

The post Big Timber medals at World Beer Cup appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2023/05/big-timber-medals-at-world-beer-cup/feed/ 0 WV presence at Craft Brewers Conference https://brilliantstream.com/2023/05/wv-presence-at-craft-brewers-conference/ https://brilliantstream.com/2023/05/wv-presence-at-craft-brewers-conference/#respond Tue, 09 May 2023 16:20:23 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=256427 The annual national Craft Brewers Conference (CBC), in Nashville, definitely has a West Virginia presence this year. The three day event is the very best way to get updated on all aspects of the craft brewing industry at one single… Continue Reading…

The post WV presence at Craft Brewers Conference appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2023/05/wv-presence-at-craft-brewers-conference/feed/ 0 Welcome back Shiner https://brilliantstream.com/2022/06/welcome-back-shiner/ https://brilliantstream.com/2022/06/welcome-back-shiner/#respond Mon, 06 Jun 2022 13:33:46 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=249519 While, technically, it may not have been totally gone from our market, it was almost invisible for several years. Now, Shiner brand beers again fill retailer shelves and tap handles in the Charleston WV region. Earlier this year, beer distributor… Continue Reading…

The post Welcome back Shiner appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2022/06/welcome-back-shiner/feed/ 0  Current state of craft beer https://brilliantstream.com/2022/05/current-state-of-craft-beer/ https://brilliantstream.com/2022/05/current-state-of-craft-beer/#respond Fri, 20 May 2022 21:01:10 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=249815 I recently returned from the annual national Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) with a feeling that our craft brewing industry is moving in many directions at the same time. No doubt while this multidirectional development path is making the industry more cumbersome… Continue Reading…

The post  Current state of craft beer appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2022/05/current-state-of-craft-beer/feed/ 0 Alcohol and the New Prohibitionists https://brilliantstream.com/2020/09/alcohol-and-the-new-prohibitionists/ https://brilliantstream.com/2020/09/alcohol-and-the-new-prohibitionists/#respond Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:45:57 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=182358 Yeah, it could be the name of a band. Unfortunately, that’s not what it is. An insidious movement is afoot in America today that sees even the legal, moderate use of beverage alcohol as a harm to society. So much… Continue Reading…

The post Alcohol and the New Prohibitionists appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2020/09/alcohol-and-the-new-prohibitionists/feed/ 0 Black Is Beautiful collaboration beer helps our community https://brilliantstream.com/2020/07/black-is-beautiful-collaboration-beer-helps-our-community/ https://brilliantstream.com/2020/07/black-is-beautiful-collaboration-beer-helps-our-community/#respond Fri, 31 Jul 2020 16:38:54 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=181999 Milestone: This article is our 500th post since beginning the blog in 2015. There could easily be $12,000 in total donations to local West Virginia community organizations from the Black is Beautiful beer collaboration project. Maybe even more. Each of… Continue Reading…

The post Black Is Beautiful collaboration beer helps our community appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2020/07/black-is-beautiful-collaboration-beer-helps-our-community/feed/ 0 Looking forward to Beer Now https://brilliantstream.com/2019/05/looking-forward-beer-now/ https://brilliantstream.com/2019/05/looking-forward-beer-now/#comments Wed, 08 May 2019 16:16:42 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=176078 In early June I will be heading out to Great Falls, Montana to represent Brilliant Stream and the West Virginia beer community at the 2019 Beer Now Conference. Beer Now is a gathering of beer writers, bloggers, and communicators from… Continue Reading…

The post Looking forward to Beer Now appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2019/05/looking-forward-beer-now/feed/ 2 Brewery growth data shows industry shift https://brilliantstream.com/2018/03/brewery-growth/ https://brilliantstream.com/2018/03/brewery-growth/#respond Wed, 28 Mar 2018 19:33:45 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=172248 Figures released by the Brewers Association (BA) this week are very good news for the business health of small local breweries. It is an especially encouraging report for the breweries of West Virginia, since all of them are among the… Continue Reading…

The post Brewery growth data shows industry shift appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2018/03/brewery-growth/feed/ 0 2016 big year in small beer https://brilliantstream.com/2016/12/2016-big-year-beer/ https://brilliantstream.com/2016/12/2016-big-year-beer/#respond Wed, 14 Dec 2016 14:43:39 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=6964 This Brewers Association graphic reviews the year in craft beer.

The post 2016 big year in small beer appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2016/12/2016-big-year-beer/feed/ 0 Impressive growth in 2015 https://brilliantstream.com/2016/03/impressive-growth-2015/ https://brilliantstream.com/2016/03/impressive-growth-2015/#respond Thu, 24 Mar 2016 16:21:30 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=4710 The Brewers Association (BA) reports continued impressive growth  in craft breweries nationally, which now represent a 12 percent market share of the overall beer industry. The association says in 2015, craft brewers produced 24.5 million barrels, and saw a 13 percent… Continue Reading…

The post Impressive growth in 2015 appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2016/03/impressive-growth-2015/feed/ 0 Brewers Association says brewery count reaches all-time high https://brilliantstream.com/2015/12/brewers-association-says-most-breweries-ever/ https://brilliantstream.com/2015/12/brewers-association-says-most-breweries-ever/#respond Wed, 02 Dec 2015 16:54:43 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=3423 In its 2015 Craft Beer in Review, the Brewers Association announced that the count of breweries in the United States has hit historic levels. Following is the text of the news release.  Boulder, CO • December 2, 2015—The total number of U.S. breweries… Continue Reading…

The post Brewers Association says brewery count reaches all-time high appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2015/12/brewers-association-says-most-breweries-ever/feed/ 0 Updated Beer 101 course offered https://brilliantstream.com/2015/10/updated-beer-101-course-offered/ https://brilliantstream.com/2015/10/updated-beer-101-course-offered/#respond Tue, 20 Oct 2015 16:26:17 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=3149 Brilliant Stream just received notice  of an updated online craft beer course, helpful especially to those who work in beer retail sales or the restaurant industry. Since much of craft beer is new to many West Virginians who sell beer in those kinds of businesses, it might… Continue Reading…

The post Updated Beer 101 course offered appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2015/10/updated-beer-101-course-offered/feed/ 0 Appalachia breweries medal at GABF https://brilliantstream.com/2015/09/appalachia-breweries-medal-at-gabf/ https://brilliantstream.com/2015/09/appalachia-breweries-medal-at-gabf/#respond Sun, 27 Sep 2015 02:30:04 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=2841 While West Virginia brewers were again shut out of the medals at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), eight other Appalachian-region breweries did manage to take home awards. GABF is the largest and most prestigious beer competition for breweries in the United… Continue Reading…

The post Appalachia breweries medal at GABF appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2015/09/appalachia-breweries-medal-at-gabf/feed/ 0 Craft brewers hit Capitol Hill https://brilliantstream.com/2015/06/craft-brewers-hit-capitol-hill/ https://brilliantstream.com/2015/06/craft-brewers-hit-capitol-hill/#comments Tue, 09 Jun 2015 17:08:28 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=1483 Wil Laska, co-owner of Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company, Lewisburg, WV, was featured in a tweet by US Senator Shelly Moore Capito, R-WV, last week.  Capito tweeted: “Toasted a West Virginia-grown business @GVBrewingCo in DC this week! #WVMade” and attached a photo… Continue Reading…

The post Craft brewers hit Capitol Hill appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2015/06/craft-brewers-hit-capitol-hill/feed/ 1 American Craft Beer Week https://brilliantstream.com/2015/05/american-craft-beer-week/ https://brilliantstream.com/2015/05/american-craft-beer-week/#respond Wed, 13 May 2015 15:41:14 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=1311 Don’t forget to celebrate American Craft Beer Week #acbw. Click on the interactive map below to search out events in your part of Appalachia or anywhere else in the USA.   American Craft Beer Week Interactive Map American Craft Beer Week… Continue Reading…

The post American Craft Beer Week appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2015/05/american-craft-beer-week/feed/ 0 Clemson grads work toward brewery startup https://brilliantstream.com/2015/01/clemson-grads-work-toward-brewery-startup/ Mon, 05 Jan 2015 20:27:38 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=684 If two Clemson University alumni have their way, Wild Oak Artisanal Ales will see a summer 2015 opening in Boynton Beach, Florida. College friends Chris McElveen and Matt Manthe may have left the South Carolina hill country to seek their fortunes… Continue Reading…

The post Clemson grads work toward brewery startup appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> Ohio Hops Conference Set https://brilliantstream.com/2014/12/ohio-hops-conference-set/ Tue, 09 Dec 2014 18:17:26 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=592 Are you interested in growing and marketing one of the most highly sought after agricultural crops for Ohio’s rapidly expanding craft brewing industry? Brad R. Bergefurd, director of OSU South Center (Research Farm) in Piketon, Ohio has announced the second annual Ohio Hops… Continue Reading…

The post Ohio Hops Conference Set appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> Appalachian Mountain Brewery to enter partnership with Craft Brew Alliance https://brilliantstream.com/2014/12/appalachian-mountain-brewery-and-craft-brew-alliance-partnership/ Thu, 04 Dec 2014 19:50:05 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=556 A new wrinkle has entered the Appalachian regional craft beer landscape that could boost a small local brewery to the next level. It could also be a model for further growth of a major U.S craft brewer. This week, Appalachian Mountain Brewery,… Continue Reading…

The post Appalachian Mountain Brewery to enter partnership with Craft Brew Alliance appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> Disney gives craft beer higher visibility https://brilliantstream.com/2014/10/disney-gives-craft-beer-higher-visibility/ Tue, 28 Oct 2014 06:10:38 +0000 https://brilliantstream.com/?p=465 It was a pleasant surprise to see the enhanced presence craft beer is getting at the 2014 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. While wine still rules here, craft beer has definitely taken a step out of the Walt Disneyworld… Continue Reading…

The post Disney gives craft beer higher visibility appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> Beer Bloggers Conference 2014 https://brilliantstream.com/2014/08/beer-bloggers-conference-2014/ https://brilliantstream.com/2014/08/beer-bloggers-conference-2014/#respond Fri, 29 Aug 2014 23:34:13 +0000 https://www.brilliantstream.com/?p=47 When I was growing up,  I thought Southern California was all about surfers. Then I found stuff like this. I quickly learned that there are a lot more craft beer drinkers in SoCal than there are surfers. So in late August 2014,… Continue Reading…

The post Beer Bloggers Conference 2014 appeared first on BrilliantStream.

]]> https://brilliantstream.com/2014/08/beer-bloggers-conference-2014/feed/ 0