The Next Draft: Sam Adams-Wormtown collab showcases brewer's local roots
Matthew Tota
Sometimes, a certain kind of success in the craft beer business can bring criticism.
Brewers putting out millions of barrels of beer get accused of growing out of the so-called craft category. For producing at such a massive scale, they are lumped in with the big commercial guys — accused of losing the independence that propelled their achievements in the first place.
I have often been such a critic, perpetuating this narrative. But lately, I’ve found myself treating some mega-craft brewers like Boston Beer Co. unfairly, forgetting that behind the billions of dollars, teams of lawyers, corporate boardrooms and massive mechanized brewhouses exists a core group of local people.