Despite the staggering number of new craft breweries popping up throughout the nation, the extra competition is good for those make their living by brewing beer.

That was one of many insights gleaned from four top brewers who shared their thoughts Thursday night on the state of the beer industry.

About 450 people attended the sixth annual Meeting of the Malts at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. The event, hosted by The Brewers of Pennsylvania, a Harrisburg-based brewers guild, included a news conference, panel discussion, dinner and brewpub festival.

The four brewers:

• Jim Koch, founder of The Boston Beer Co. and brewer of Samuel Adams, which has a manufacturing plant in Upper Macungie Township.
• Dick Yuengling, fifth generation president and owner of D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. of Pottsville.
• David Walker, co-founder of Firestone Walker Brewing Co. in California.
• Eric Wallace, co-founder and president of Left Handed Brewing Co. in Colorado.

Chris Lampe, co-owner and production manager of Weyerbacher Brewing Co. of Easton, the association’s new president, gave the toast at the event.

BROTHERHOOD

Stories of how the brewers got their start and the challenges they continue to face were peppered with humorous tales of mistakes, mishaps and bumps along the road to success.

One of the elements that stood out was the supportive relationships that brewers said could be found among themselves. Though they compete with each other, they are quick to lend a hand, offer tours of each other’s breweries, learn from each other and collaborate to advocate for themselves on legislative issues.

Most craft brewers like and help each other, Koch said.

“Dick [Yuengling] runs some of the best-run breweries, Eric [Wallace] and I work together at the Brewers Association. He’s going to give me an honest answer,” Koch said. “That’s very unusual across American business.”

COMPETITION IS GOOD

Koch also spoke about how he helps startups begin their businesses through his Brewing the American Dream loan program, emphasizing that he followed the same path as a struggling entrepreneur when he started Sam Adams in 1984.

“We have over 40 small up-and-coming breweries that we made loans to help them grow their business,” Koch said. “I think we really value that camaraderie.”

The proliferation of craft breweries is also good for business, the brewers said.

“It’s good for craft beer, good for consumers,” Koch said. “As craft brewers, we should accept it.”

Read More at source: LVB.com