One direction that the craft beer market is growing is not larger but smaller. This is why the word ”nanobrewing” is being thrown around a lot these days. Nanobrewing is a scaled down version of a micro brewery which is defined by utilizing a 4 bbl or smaller system.
These systems produce only slightly more than what most avid home brewers are making with the distinct difference that you can buy (and they can sell) the beer. Nanobreweries are not a new concept (Dogfish Head started with a 1/3 BBL system), but they are taking off. The small size of the brewery allows for brewers to get creative with their product without the risk of taking a large hit when a batch does not turn out quite as expected and, although the small amount of output does not equal big returns, entrepreneurs are able to enter the market without breaking the bank.
The big down side, however, is that nanobreweries, even though they are very small, must follow all regulations relating to brewing and must pay excise tax on the beer they produce. Also, all beer that is sold for consumption must contain the government health warning statement and be properly labeled according to the provisions of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. This is an expensive and time consuming process for a very limited return.
With that in mind, make an effort to help these guys out by giving their beer a try whenever you get a chance. You may stumble upon the best beer you have ever had and that your friends never will. Those are some serious bragging rights!
