The May 27, 2015 article "Just like foodies, beer geeks slake their thirst by hitting up the brewery next door" rightly points out that craft beer is growing exponentially because of consumers eager to try new brews and brewers excited to make new flavors, styles and labels of beer; however, there is a third reason for the explosion in craft beer. America's 3,300 independent beer distributors who invest in new brands, promote them in markets far and wide, and deliver them to bars and stores often hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of miles away.
It's because of the unique American system of beer distribution that the U.S. saw more than 600 new breweries open last year, according to the Brewers Association. It's because of this system that craft brewers continue to see double digit growth as a segment year after year and pierced the 10 percent volume mark in the U.S. for the first time this past year.