Craft beer industry sobers up

“There's no sugar-coating that it's a tough time..."

In late December a man who grew up in Albemarle County and had just returned home after 40 years submitted a Letter to the Editor in the Daily Progress complaining about the number of places there were to drink:

“WTH? I mean how much do people need to drink? I enjoy the occasional toddy as much as anybody, but is a winery, brewery or cidery needed every couple of miles? It seems every other week the media is promoting some new entrepreneur who who wants to come here and make alcohol. We have had enough thank you.”

The letter writer appeared to have missed the news about the winery and craft beer boom that started several decades ago. Still, he had a point. There are over 83 winery, brewery, cidery, and distillery locations in Charlottesville and our surrounding counties. And the day before his letter was published the New York Times ran a story about the craft beer industry, reporting that “the majority of Americans live within 10 miles of a brewery.”