🍺
Hop Harrison
Week 1 Journey
Current Journey
Week 1/50
HomeBlogStatesAboutNewsletter

American Beer Culture Stories

Discover the rich history, passionate pioneers, and cultural movements that shaped America's craft beer renaissance

The Great American Beer Renaissance: How Craft Beer Saved American Brewing
Foundation Story
4 min read7/28/2025Hop Harrison

The Great American Beer Renaissance: How Craft Beer Saved American Brewing

The story of how a handful of passionate brewers rescued American beer from bland uniformity and sparked a revolution that changed drinking culture across the nation.

Key Takeaways:

  • •Fritz Maytag's rescue of Anchor Brewing in 1965 sparked the craft beer revolution
  • •Jack McAuliffe's New Albion Brewery (1976) created the modern craft brewery template
Read Full Story
Hops Across America: The Story of America's Indigenous Ingredient
Foundation Story
4 min read7/27/2025Hop Harrison

Hops Across America: The Story of America's Indigenous Ingredient

From colonial herb gardens to Yakima Valley hop farms, discover how American hops evolved to define modern craft beer's bold, citrusy character.

Read Full Story
From Homebrewer to Empire: The Garage-to-Glory Stories That Built Modern Craft Beer
Foundation Story
5 min read7/26/2025Hop Harrison

From Homebrewer to Empire: The Garage-to-Glory Stories That Built Modern Craft Beer

Behind every great brewery is a humble beginning—discover the garage labs, basement experiments, and kitchen discoveries that launched America's craft beer giants.

Read Full Story

Now Exploring: Alabama

Week 1 of our 50-state journey begins in the Heart of Dixie

Live NowWeek 1 • State 1 of 50

Alabama's Craft Beer Renaissance

Discover the Heart of Dixie's thriving craft beer scene, featuring 7 exceptional breweries and their signature beers. From Birmingham's urban brewing culture to Mobile's coastal flavors, Alabama's beer revolution is in full swing.

This Week's Features:

  • •7 featured Alabama breweries with complete stories
  • •Daily beer reviews with detailed tasting notes
  • •Local brewery history and founder insights
  • •Interactive journey map tracking our progress
Read Alabama StoryView Beer Reviews
Alabama state landscape
Alabama • Week 1
7 Breweries Featured
Heart of Dixie
Monday's Featured Beer
Good People IPA
Good People Brewing
Tuesday's Featured Beer
Avondale Miss Fancy
Avondale Brewing
45+
Alabama Breweries
7
Featured This Week
1
State Complete
49
States Remaining

More Beer Culture Stories

Dive deeper into America's brewing heritage

The IPA Revolution: How America Reinvented India Pale Ale
Foundation Story
4 min read•7/25/2025

The IPA Revolution: How America Reinvented India Pale Ale

Trace the journey of India Pale Ale from 18th-century British ships to American hop bombs that redefined what beer could be.

Read More →
IPAhop-forward beers
Small Town, Big Beer: How Rural America Became the Heart of Craft Brewing
Foundation Story
5 min read•7/24/2025

Small Town, Big Beer: How Rural America Became the Heart of Craft Brewing

Explore how places like Asheville, NC; Burlington, VT; and Bend, OR transformed from quiet mountain towns into craft beer meccas that rival major cities.

Read More →
small town brewingbeer tourism
Hop Harrison - Beer Culture Expert

Meet Hop Harrison

Your guide through America's craft beer renaissance. With a passion for brewing history, local culture, and the stories behind every great beer, Hop brings decades of industry knowledge to every article and brewery visit.

About Hop HarrisonStart Reading