i i am del walters. "inside story" is next. always check us out at aljazeera.com. story." story." >> there is little known >> there is little known american industry boiling with american industry boiling with growth, creating jobs and growth, creating jobs and frothing with potential. frothing with potential. we're talking about american we're talking about american craft beer. craft beer. not in more than a hundred years not in more than a hundred years has there been as many has there been as many production breweries as there production breweries as there are today. are today. as consumers search as consumers search for new for new flavors, coor's and budweiser, flavors, coor's and budweiser, the handmade beers brewed across the handmade beers brewed across the country are generating the country are generating billions of dollars in retail billions of dollars in retail sales. sales. now comes word that a kansas now comes word that a kansas city icon boulevard brewing has city icon boulevard brewing has been sold to a huge belgium been sold to a huge belgium

brewer, and some are wondering brewer, and some are wondering if craft beer will get too big if craft beer will get too big to remain distinctively to remain distinctively american. american. >> this is a great time for >> this is a great time for craft beer. craft beer. a great time to be in the scene, a great time to be in the scene, and it's a lot of money. and it's a lot of money. >> americans have a nearly >> americans have a nearly insatiable historic love of insatiable historic love of beer. beer. 200 million barrels are brewed 200 million barrels are brewed in the u.s. annually. in the u.s. annually. but not all beer is the same. but not all beer is the same. craft beer is not your father's craft beer is not your father's suddens. craft does not belong suddens. craft does not belong in your red to go cup. in your red to go cup. you don't chuck, you sip, you you don't chuck, you sip, you savor it. savor it. >> i love craft beer because it >> i love craft beer because it is very delicious, and it is is very delicious, and it is constantly evolving, and it has constantly evolving, and it has many different behavior many different behavior flavors, and i flavors, and i feel that i'm feel that i'm i'm constantly i'm constantly learning new things about it. learning new things about it.

>> reporter: defined craft is >> reporter: defined craft is artisan. artisan. brewers focus on new brewers focus on new interpretations of old styles interpretations of old styles and create new ones. and create new ones. handcrafted it's distinctly handcrafted it's distinctly american. american. craft beer drinkers consume six craft beer drinkers consume six percent of the total beer market percent of the total beer market but that equals $10 billion in but that equals $10 billion in retail sales last year. retail sales last year. sales of the big beers, the ones sales of the big beers, the ones even non-drinkers know, coor's, even non-drinkers know, coor's, budweiser, grew by 1% last year budweiser, grew by 1% last year but craft beer is booming. but craft beer is booming. this niche market saw a 15% this niche market saw a 15% increase in volume, and this was increase in volume, and this was the sixth straight year of the sixth straight year of double-digit growth even in the double-digit growth even in the midst of high employment and midst of high employment and sagging salaries. sagging salaries. craft beer would appear craft beer would appear recession proof. recession proof. >> i like craft beer instead of >> i like craft beer instead of something like a something like a budweiser, budweiser, miller's coor's because you can

miller's coor's because you can pursue different flavors and pursue different flavors and learn about different styles. learn about different styles. there is not just one type of there is not just one type of beer that maybe gives you a bu beer that maybe gives you a bu buzz. buzz. >> reporter: large manufacturers >> reporter: large manufacturers are feeling the heat. are feeling the heat. belgium's brewer is tapping in belgium's brewer is tapping in to the american craft market. to the american craft market. the the flemish flemish brew has been brew has been brewing beer, they recently brewing beer, they recently purchased boulevard brewing. purchased boulevard brewing. founded john mcdonald said it founded john mcdonald said it was the belgium beer he sipped was the belgium beer he sipped in paris 30 years ago that moved in paris 30 years ago that moved him to open his own brewery in him to open his own brewery in kansas city, kansas city, missouri, in 1989. missouri, in 1989. boulevard is known for novel and boulevard is known for novel and american-interpretations of american-interpretations of belgium beer styles. belgium beer styles. the two company heads called the the two company heads called the merger a fit. merger a fit. but many say it will dill but many say it will dill lieutenant the brand.

lieutenant the brand. this is not the first time that this is not the first time that a big beer swallowed up a craft a big beer swallowed up a craft company. company. miller coor's miller coor's owns the craft owns the craft pierre, and so what is making pierre, and so what is making craft beer flow? craft beer flow? we went to we went to churchke in churchke in washington, d.c. and met with a washington, d.c. and met with a beer so beer so sommelier. sommelier. >> i feel that craft beer is >> i feel that craft beer is always secondary to flavor always secondary to flavor impact. impact. non-craft beer is first non-craft beer is first determined by determined by more business more business acumen. acumen. >> he sees a world of difference >> he sees a world of difference between craft beer and big between craft beer and big brewers lik brewers lik anheuser-busch anheuser-busch and and coor's. coor's. >> it's flavor. >> it's flavor.

you know, on a visceral level, you know, on a visceral level, craft beer is something that you craft beer is something that you can't stay away from because it can't stay away from because it is so engrossing when you come is so engrossing when you come to its textures, it's tastes and to its textures, it's tastes and aromas. aromas. >> one of a growing number of >> one of a growing number of restaurant and bars restaurant and bars catering to catering to craft beer lovers or simply craft beer lovers or simply different. different. >> it is a fun bar with a very >> it is a fun bar with a very large collection of beers that large collection of beers that we don't ever find elsewhere we don't ever find elsewhere , , and we don't know what we're and we don't know what we're looking at half the time but it looking at half the time but it is fun to try new things. is fun to try new things. >> craft >> craft enthusiasts are enthusiasts are knowledgeable consumers. knowledgeable consumers. they use network to get u they use network to get u up-to-date information about the up-to-date information about the brewer brewer 's 's ale. ale. >> particularly the last five to >> particularly the last five to ten years, information share ten years, information share something has blown up. something has blown up. the internet provides ways to the internet provides ways to research and share knowledge. research and share knowledge. nowadays people are educated on nowadays people are educated on this so people know you don't

this so people know you don't have to give in and grab what's have to give in and grab what's kind of ubiquitous, but it's kind of ubiquitous, but it's worth seeking out intoxicating worth seeking out intoxicating beverages that provide nuance beverages that provide nuance flavors. flavors. they have history, they have they have history, they have stories stories and it's a visceral and it's a visceral pursuit. pursuit. >> 13 craft beers were brewed, >> 13 craft beers were brewed, more now than the previous peak more now than the previous peak in the 1880s. in the 1880s. >> it's freshest beer in the >> it's freshest beer in the city. city. >> washington, d.c. is >> washington, d.c. is experiencing a beer renaissance experiencing a beer renaissance of its own. of its own. we visited one of the city's we visited one of the city's micro breweries opened micro breweries opened in 2009 in 2009 dc 31 bro dc 31 bro brou brou . . they got in the craft business they got in the craft business as it was taking off and didn't as it was taking off and didn't look back. look back. >> this has been great for us. >> this has been great for us. business is booming. business is booming.

it's not just a story unique to it's not just a story unique to us in d.c. us in d.c. the craft brew culture and the craft brew culture and industry has taken off and come industry has taken off and come into its own. into its own. we've been lucky enough to be we've been lucky enough to be part of that locally here in part of that locally here in washington, d.c. washington, d.c. >> reporter: d.c. brow owners >> reporter: d.c. brow owners like many brewers across the like many brewers across the nation see craft brew industry nation see craft brew industry more than just a cool job but an more than just a cool job but an important local contributor. important local contributor. >> i think there was a demand >> i think there was a demand for it. for it. culturally the city had changed culturally the city had changed from that place of transient and from that place of transient and there was a lack of identity to there was a lack of identity to people putting down roots, people putting down roots, stilling down here and people stilling down here and people craving something to represent craving something to represent d.c. not just in beer form or d.c. not just in beer form or product form but in the cultural product form but in the cultural form. form. we were able to step in that we were able to step in that role a little bit and help role a little bit and help people make that identity. people make that identity. >> reporter: many craft beer >> reporter: many craft beer enthusiasts say their enthusiasts say their beer is beer is

the local appeal. the local appeal. >> in d.c. we have a number of >> in d.c. we have a number of small small breweries. breweries. and you know, go to those and you know, go to those breweries, meet the people, and breweries, meet the people, and you get the sense that it is a you get the sense that it is a really small community oriented really small community oriented business. business. i do like to support that. i do like to support that. >> and more than a >> and more than a savory savory thirst thirst quencher, it's a bryce spot in quencher, it's a bryce spot in the economy. the economy. the industry supports over the industry supports over 100,00100,000 jobs 100,00100,000 jobs . . craft beer growth projections craft beer growth projections are nearly $6 billion in the are nearly $6 billion in the next five years. next five years. so as you sit back and enjoy so as you sit back and enjoy your friends, family, and the your friends, family, and the festivities of the holiday festivities of the holiday season, have a sip of something season, have a sip of something that's already becoming as that's already becoming as american as apple pie. american as apple pie. >> when we come back we'll dive >> when we come back we'll dive into the ferment, so to speak, into the ferment, so to speak, and talk about craft beer with and talk about craft beer with three pioneers in the industry. three pioneers in the industry.

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verbally to -- dictated verbally verbally to -- dictated verbally to us by the president mohamed to us by the president mohamed consider this: the news of the consider this: the news of the day plus so much more. day plus so much more. >> we begin with the government >> we begin with the government shutdown. shutdown. >> answers to the questions no >> answers to the questions no one else will ask. one else will ask. >> it seems like they can't >> it seems like they can't agree to anything in washington agree to anything in washington no matter what. no matter what. >> antonio mora, award winning >> antonio mora, award winning and hard hitting. and hard hitting. >> we've heard you talk about >> we've heard you talk about the history of suicide in your the history of suicide in your family. family. >> there's no status quo, just >> there's no status quo, just the bottom line. the bottom line. >> but, what about buying shares >> but, what about buying shares in a professional athlete? in a professional athlete? >> welcome back to inside story. >> welcome back to inside story. i'm ray suarez. i'm ray suarez. joining us now to talk about the joining us now to talk about the american craft beer industry american craft beer industry

from spokane, washington, could from spokane, washington, could you founder of no lie brew you founder of no lie brew house. house. and and port city brewing company, port city brewing company, and stone brewing company. and stone brewing company. well, you guys and your market well, you guys and your market segment, greg cook, continue to segment, greg cook, continue to grow at a time when the rest of grow at a time when the rest of the industry, if you'll excuse the industry, if you'll excuse the pun, is flat. the pun, is flat. what's the problem? what's the problem? i keep hearing this almost under i keep hearing this almost under current of a narrative of loss. current of a narrative of loss. every time one of your every time one of your compatriots sells out to a mega compatriots sells out to a mega brewing brewing giant, it's an ah shucks giant, it's an ah shucks moment instead of a chest moment instead of a chest pumping,ify, high fiving moment. pumping,ify, high fiving moment. >> we're a >> we're a passion-driven passion-driven industry. industry. the idea that we shouldn't the idea that we shouldn't expect more and we just want expect more and we just want less, we're changing that notion less, we're changing that notion to we deserve more and we to we deserve more and we deserve better. deserve better.

as compatriots fighting on the as compatriots fighting on the front line for great beer in front line for great beer in this country when one of us this country when one of us decides to go to the other side decides to go to the other side of the line it is a of the line it is a disappointing loss sometimes. disappointing loss sometimes. >> let's talk about that other >> let's talk about that other side of the line, bill butcher, side of the line, bill butcher, from what you've seen so far, from what you've seen so far, and there have been several and there have been several acquisitions of smaller brewers acquisitions of smaller brewers by larger ones, have they by larger ones, have they tempered the recipes? tempered the recipes? have they tampered with the have they tampered with the creative spirit that made th creative spirit that made th it it worth acquiring. worth acquiring. >> i don't know what they've >> i don't know what they've done with the recipes. done with the recipes. our brewery is less than three our brewery is less than three years old. years old. we're trying to make the best we're trying to make the best beer possible an get it out to beer possible an get it out to our customers as fresh as our customers as fresh as possible so people can enjoy possible so people can enjoy better quality beer. better quality beer. >> is that the difference >> is that the difference between a port city and a giant between a port city and a giant beer? beer? >> our beer is very >> our beer is very flavorful, flavorful, and and

its it's unpasteurized. its it's unpasteurized. and we get it to our customers and we get it to our customers as fresh as possible. as fresh as possible. we turn the inventory of our we turn the inventory of our brewery completely every three brewery completely every three weeks. weeks. >> john bryant, he's talking >> john bryant, he's talking about beer like it's a living about beer like it's a living product. product. like a loaf of bread. like a loaf of bread. are you changing are you changing people's ideas people's ideas about what beer is by making it about what beer is by making it differently and talking to your differently and talking to your customers differently about it? customers differently about it? >> much of the business of beer >> much of the business of beer crafting in the united states crafting in the united states has been outsourced throughout has been outsourced throughout the world. the world. if you look at the major brewers if you look at the major brewers in the united states they're in the united states they're owned by international owned by international companies. companies. to greg and bill's point we're to greg and bill's point we're not only fighting to keep a not only fighting to keep a culture of beer in the united culture of beer in the united states but a craft beer states but a craft beer culture. culture. with craft beer culture being with craft beer culture being hyper local in our communities hyper local in our communities and states, that's u.s. jobs. and states, that's u.s. jobs. that's a great tax base. that's a great tax base. where there is great beer food where there is great beer food will follow. will follow.

where there is beer and food, where there is beer and food, music will tomorrow, that music will tomorrow, that demonstrates how we create demonstrates how we create culture in the united states culture in the united states that is health y vibrant, and that is health y vibrant, and its rooted right here. its rooted right here. that helps our own local that helps our own local economy. economy. being based in spokane, being based in spokane, washington, we're trying to be a washington, we're trying to be a driven as much as greg is in san driven as much as greg is in san diego and bill in diego and bill in washington, d.c. washington, d.c. in spokane we're trying to in spokane we're trying to create create a craft brewing a craft brewing university in turn they go to university in turn they go to the grocery and vote every time the grocery and vote every time when they purchase. when they purchase. what we're seeing in each what we're seeing in each neighborhood around the united neighborhood around the united states is people buying local. states is people buying local. it could be u.s. it could be u.s. it could be your neighborhood, it could be your neighborhood, your state or your region. your state or your region. people are proud of the beers people are proud of the beers made in the united states. made in the united states. stone brewing, port city and stone brewing, port city and that's something worth fighting that's something worth fighting for, especially this time of era for, especially this time of era where much is being outsourced. where much is being outsourced. 100 years ago basically all the 100 years ago basically all the beer in the united states was beer in the united states was made here. made here. today the largest brewer in the today the largest brewer in the

united states might make united states might make 2 million barrels. 2 million barrels. those large conglomerate those large conglomerate companies are based overseas. companies are based overseas. >> i was out to dinner with my >> i was out to dinner with my young adult son, and he was young adult son, and he was asking connoisseur-like asking connoisseur-like questions of the waiter about questions of the waiter about their drink offerings. their drink offerings. when the waiter went with a when the waiter went with a away, i quizzed him about that. away, i quizzed him about that. he said oh dad, when you drink he said oh dad, when you drink better you drink less. better you drink less. which was a great thing for a which was a great thing for a young adult to say. young adult to say. but do you use and relate the but do you use and relate the product differently if you have product differently if you have that kind of relationship with that kind of relationship with it? it? >> well, absolutely. >> well, absolutely. it's the difference between fast it's the difference between fast food and the fine dining food and the fine dining restaurant, or actual artisan restaurant, or actual artisan cheese and pre-wrapped processed cheese and pre-wrapped processed cheese slices. cheese slices. we're getting away from the idea we're getting away from the idea of industrialized notion of industrialized notion facsimile of beer to real beer. facsimile of beer to real beer. actual real beer is worth actual real beer is worth discussing, it's worth talking discussing, it's worth talking about. about. every once in a while i'll hear

every once in a while i'll hear people mention that it's a people mention that it's a fansfication, and i think that's fansfication, and i think that's losing a little bit of the losing a little bit of the conversation. conversation. when we're moving from a laundry when we're moving from a laundry list of list of ingredients ingredients , industrial , industrial ingredients, additive and ingredients, additive and preservpreservatives, to just a, preservpreservatives, to just a, barley, hops and craft beer, barley, hops and craft beer, that's a return to normalcy. that's a return to normalcy. >> it sounds like what you and >> it sounds like what you and your comrades are saying, how your comrades are saying, how you measure success, how you you measure success, how you define success is different. define success is different. >> it's all about quality over >> it's all about quality over quantity. quantity. i come to the craft beer i come to the craft beer industry from the wine business. industry from the wine business. i was in the wine business for i was in the wine business for 18 years. 18 years. when i was coming up it was a when i was coming up it was a time when americans were time when americans were discovering better quality wine. discovering better quality wine. they stopped ordering a glass of they stopped ordering a glass of generic wine, and i generic wine, and i 15 to 20 years 15 to 20 years ago people discovered coffee. ago people discovered coffee.

it's better quality, it's better quality, freshly freshly roasted, possibly locally roasted, possibly locally roasted. roasted. people are willing to pay more people are willing to pay more for something that tastes for something that tastes better. better. >> more with our guests after >> more with our guests after this break. this break. stay with us. stay with us. >> we find the fault lines that >> we find the fault lines that run through communities. run through communities. >> the shooting happened >> the shooting happened about 30 minutes ago. about 30 minutes ago. >> companies... >> companies... >> the remains of the fire >> the remains of the fire are still everywhere here. are still everywhere here. >> the powers that be >> the powers that be at home and around the world... at home and around the world... >> not only do they not get >> not only do they not get compensation but you don't even compensation but you don't even have to explain why? have to explain why? >> well thats exactly >> well thats exactly what i said. what i said. >> we question authority. >> we question authority. >> so you said we could get >> so you said we could get access... >> that's enough! access... >> that's enough! >> ... and those affected. >> ... and those affected. >> investigative journalism >> investigative journalism at it's toughest. at it's toughest.

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.... > . welcome to al jazeera america. i am del walters. these are the stories we are following for you: ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. millions hitting the malls and those big-box stores. defiance in egypt. protest orders demonstrating against a new law restricting public gathers. syria's children forced to work just to survive and missing out on their education. today is black friday, one of, if not the, biggest shopping