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Economic woes brew success for craft beer sales
Staff photo by JIM REED
Dunedin Brewery's Norman Dixon Jr., left, and Trace Caley brew a batch of beer.
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Published: September 24, 2009
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TAMPA - If a bright spot in the gloomy economy leaves you wanting to celebrate, chances are it won't be with an overpriced cocktail.
Instead, an increasing number of Americans and Bay area residents are going back to basics with a microbrew.
"This is just a simple luxury that you can have for a dollar more," said Travis Kruger, general manager for the Dunedin Brewery. "Its one of those escapes that you can have with just a few minutes and a few bucks."
Beer sales are up 15 percent at the Dunedin Brewery, Kruger said. The brewery even had to move its bottling operation off-site last year to keep up with demand.
Dunedin Brewery, which hosts its annual OktoBEERfest Saturday through Oct. 3, also sells its brews at Total Beer and Wine and select Publix stores.
Nationwide, craft brewers saw 9 percent higher sales in their first half of the year, during a time when overall U.S. beer sales fell 1.3 percent and imported beer sales fell 9.5 percent, according to the Brewers Association.
Not only is the demand for beer growing, but thanks to shows such as Bravo's "Top Chef" and Fox's "Hell's Kitchen," educating viewers about expanding their dining selections beyond chicken wings and cheese fries, there's a greater demand for affordable quality products.
"The palettes of people are evolving," Kruger said. "They want more complex foods, better wine, better liquor and better beer is coming along with that."
David Doble, head brewer and co-owner of the Tampa Bay Brewing Company in Ybor City, said his gross restaurant sales are down while beer sales are up 2 percent.
With people more conscious of where they spend their disposal income, people want more bang for their bucks, Doble said.
"It's not about going out and drinking 10 pints of the cheapest beer you can find," Doble said. "It's about sitting down and being able to enjoy two or three pints of a quality beer amongst people that you want to sit around and actually talk to."
And with craft beer sales on the rise that means locals are supporting local businesses.
Craft beer is a genuine product that people don't mind spending the extra dollars for, said patron Charlie Hile, of Tampa.
"It's a little bit more … to me it's worthwhile," said Hile, who visits Tampa Bay Brewing Company two to three times a week. "Life is too short to drink cheap beer."
For a listing of local breweries and an interactive map, visit TBO.com, Keyword: Beer. For more information about OktoBEERfest beer festival starting Saturday, visit www.dunedinbrewery.com. Reporter Sarah Hoye can be reached at (813) 259-7832.
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