We see only the final result of what could have been months or years of hard work and development, perhaps less in the case of a growing confidence and mastery by the brewer, but nonetheless, it is an end of a process that starts long before the first bag of malted barley is poured or the kettle heated. The beginning of any recipe calls for some sign of what the final product should and can be, a beer is no less a design of components mashed together to create something unique in a world of bland corporate sameness. The only limitation is the edges of what constitutes a drinkers palate, there is an open possibility of what can come next if we are willing to try it.
While we may debate why we drink the beer we do, there is no doubt that along with the creativity and design of each new brew, we are drawn in by the community surrounding our beer even more. It is the experience of the taproom, the communal nature of sitting down and being able to talk about the beer with the people who make it or who have a passion for it just the same. The new friendships that have happened because of simply sharing pictures or thoughts about your beer online are astounding, it's not just the beer traders, it's the groups that get together and go on beer tours, self guided or otherwise, who meet up when they go out and who have formed new and lasting relationships with people they would never have met in a million lifetimes, just because they choose to drink craft beer.
Dreamers alike, brewers and beer drinkers, we hope for a bright future for this industry we call craft. We seek to support local business, some larger than others, some hyper small and serving only a tiny space in this world. We want people to succeed with their dreams because we feel connected with every pint we buy and every story we tell. We belong to this community because we see the possibility in what comes next, believing in a future where it transcends beer and becomes ingrained in a more inclusive and diverse world we can create. We look around us at a planet resting on weary legs and wonder what if we can make some part of it better, from the start and with conviction. The door needs to be open wider, we who have come in already need to make a place at the table for anyone who wants to sit down and if we really mean we want to make this world a better place then we need to be more active in defending and calling out the actions we see that bring harm or disrespect to anyone.
It's not about beer anymore, it can be so much more than that if we want it to be.
It matters because we can make it matter.
Cheers!
Polk
