For most business owners, cozying up to your competition seems counterintuitive—but not for craft brewers.
In honor of American Craft Beer Week (May 16-22), craft brewers from all 50 states are joining together in what may one day be referred to as the happiest and hoppiest union of all time. Their goal? To make the biggest small beer ever, with each brewer putting their own spin on a single recipe.
“There’s nothing more American than small and independent craft brewers and their amazing, full-flavored beer,” says Julia Herz, publisher of CraftBeer.com and craft beer program director at the Brewers Association. “Craft beer is a unique community where competitors work together to provide beers that represent authenticity, quality and innovation. The unity and collaboration behind the Biggest Small Beer Ever Made shows brewers believe that the success of other independent brewers is their own success.”
The Biggest Small Beer Ever Made
The base beer recipe is an imperial porter. But because each brewery has its own house flavor, yeast, raw ingredient sources, filtering process and brewing methods, each version will taste slightly different. Austin’s Red Horn Brewing Co., for example, is releasing a version that more closely resembles a dark English strong ale, according to owners Chad Misner, Jon Lamb and Zack Gardner. “We think in general it will be noticeable that many breweries’ version of this beer come from the same (or similar) recipe while highlighting the subtle differences,” they share. “Those differences are what we should be celebrating … and what craft beer is all about.” And they’re right. As a new brewery, they’ve already been welcomed into a community they consider more collaborative than competitive.
Seth Gross, owner of Bull City Burger and Brewery in Durham, is equally thrilled to be part of the community and, in particular, to represent North Carolina. “[Our goal] is to share the love of craft beer and the diversity of craft breweries.” His version of the beer? Slightly smoky, malt forward and not too hoppy.
The base beer recipe itself was created by Dr. Paul D. Ogg, quality control manager at Declaration Brewing in Denver, and has been described as “chocolate toffee yumminess.” Ogg is currently battling cancer, so his recipe was chosen to support to a beloved member of the craft brewing community.
“Even as craft brewing evolves and there is controversy over big brewers acquiring small ones, at its core, the ideals of craft brewers working to support each other for the good of great beer remains,” says Andy Sparhawk, craft beer program coordinator at the Brewers Association. He adds that, after reaching out to brewers around the country, it was easy to find a brewery in all 50 states to participate. “I was really taken aback by the generosity of these brewers.”
While the base recipe is an Imperial Porter, each brewery contributes their own style, yeast and raw ingredients from their preferred source so that each batch of the Biggest Small Beer Ever Made is different.
Where can you find the Biggest Small Beer Ever Made?
So now you’re probably thinking, How can I get some? This handy interactive map shows you all of the ACBW celebrations in your area, with the red, white and blue starred tulip glasses indicating the 100 different locations where you can sample the Biggest Small Beer Ever Made. Wherever you end up celebrating, don’t forget to raise a glass to the craft brewers of America and to #MakeSmallBeerBig!
