A short history
Colonists brewed from the start, sometimes with pumpkins, spruce or corn when barley was scarce. In the 19th century, German immigrants brought lager yeast, and names like Anheuser, Busch, Pabst, Schlitz and Miller built national breweries. By 1873, the country had over 4,000 breweries.
Then came Prohibition, from 1920 to 1933. Most breweries closed for good, and those that survived consolidated into giants making light, uniform lagers. By the late 1970s, fewer than 100 breweries remained.
The turnaround began when Fritz Maytag rescued San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing in 1965, and New Albion opened in 1976 as an early microbrewery. In 1978, President Carter signed a bill legalising homebrewing at the federal level, unleashing a generation of hobbyists. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (1980) made Cascade hops famous. Today the country has more than 9,000 breweries.
The beer culture
American craft beer celebrates innovation. Brewers experiment constantly with new hop varieties from the Pacific Northwest, barrel-ageing in bourbon casks, fruit, coffee and even breakfast cereal. The taproom is the social centre, often family-friendly and dog-friendly, with food trucks outside.
Regional identities are strong: bitter, piney West Coast IPAs; hazy, juicy New England IPAs; Colorado’s outdoor-loving breweries; and the Midwest’s love of lagers and big stouts. Festivals such as the Great American Beer Festival in Denver attract enormous crowds.
Signature styles
- American IPA: bold, bitter, citrusy and piney, the flagship style of the craft movement.
- New England IPA: hazy, soft and juicy, with low bitterness and loads of tropical aroma.
- American Pale Ale: balanced and hoppy, the gateway to craft beer.
- American Lager: light, crisp and hugely popular, now joined by craft pilsners.
- Imperial Stout: strong, dark and often barrel-aged.
- California Common: “steam beer,” a lager fermented warm, famously associated with Anchor.
Traveler’s tip
Pick a beer city and explore by neighbourhood. San Diego, Portland, Denver, Asheville and Vermont are all excellent. Most taprooms pour tasting flights, so you can sample widely without overdoing it. Freshness matters for hoppy beers, so always check the can date. Many taprooms sell cans to go, so you can bring a few local favourites home.