Durham, N.C. – Fifteen of America’s finest small breweries - the Class of 1988 - will celebrate their 15th anniversary this year. On July 15th, the Brewers’ Association of America (BAA), in conjunction with the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), will host a Capitol Hill reception to celebrate the success of these thriving small businesses.
The reception will be held in Room 106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Brewery owners and representatives will be joined by members of Congress to taste a sampling of their fine brews and toast their achievement.
“There is no better testament to America’s extensive small brewing industry than the number and quality of the Class of 1988,” said Daniel Bradford, president of the Brewers’ Association of America. “These BAA member breweries attest to the growing strength of the small brewing industry and the impact it makes on the local economy by providing jobs and tax revenues.”
The breweries’ 15th anniversary celebration reminds the public of how young today’s small brewing industry actually is. From a high of 4,000 breweries at the turn of last century, the industry had shrunk to only 41 in 1980. With more than 1,400 breweries now dotting the landscape, America can honestly be called the center of the brewing universe.
“We are proud to be part of this celebration of small brewing,” said David Rehr, president of the National Beer Wholesalers Association. “The revival of small brewing reflects the deep seated passion that Americans have for beer and the industry that supports it.”
Held as part of the celebration of American Beer Month, the 15th anniversary reception reminds senators, representatives and their constituents back home, that domestic brewing has once again become a local industry and the source of incredible pride for many Americans.