It all depends on what you value and like. If you tend to drink American lagers there are craft lagers that taste amazing but they can be expensive when compared. The biggest thing to consider when justifying the price is quality and quantity. They quality of the hops and amount used in some local ipas is why they go for $16 to $20 a 4pk. Next you have the size of the brewing system if they are 15bbl or under that’s pretty small and probably only solid in house and maybe some local bars and restaurants. Large breweries are using automated systems and one batch of beer they brew is equal and sometimes more than what a small brewery can produce in an entire year. Finally supporting local independent businesses in you community. These small craft breweries usually offer a great work environment with respectable pay. Creating local jobs and supporting the other local businesses such as food trucks and local print shops for merch. There is a lot more to what craft beer does for our nation than just supply great beer. I am quite biased bc I have worked in the industry for the past 5 years and plan to continue to grow with this industry.
It can be quite a rabbit hole of exploration and adventure trying new beers and learning what you like, and nothing is more beneficial than getting to the breweries and talking with the staff. They will help you learn what you like and why you like it. (When they reopen)
I’m on the same boat as
@clukx I pick up my beer at local breweries then snag some hamms to space it out a bit!! They sale 12pks of hamms for $5.50 at local gas stations and I’m convinced it’s the best macro America adjunct lager. All of the local brewers love hamms and drink it at beer fest and other events!
@vinnyzan if you ever have questions about craft beer reach out! I love to talk about beer, and I can look at local breweries near you and help find beers they brew to fit the style you like!