In the mid-1980s, the American beer market offered far fewer options than what is available today. When microbreweries began to rear their heads, distributors and retailers, were skeptical of their new beers and did not believe that these new American brews would be able to compete with imports. Newer, smaller brewers also had to overcome antiquated laws and strong consumer brand loyalty to major domestic beers. After years of struggles, microbrewers established a foothold in the American beer market, popularized new and previously underappreciated styles, and set the stage for a massive proliferation of nonbreweries across the country.

This book takes a look at these microbreweries--prime examples of American enterprise and innovation--from an industry outsider's perspective. The author explores a select number of small breweries from around the United States, covering their signature brews, histories, and what it took for them to claim their niches in the marketplace.