Quaffers: Craft beer booms in the US

The trend-setting American craft beer market is being led by the very strong and distinctive IPA (India Pale Ale) styles.

Summing up developments in 2014, the Brewers Association, representing craft and home brewers, said IPAs account for around one fifth of craft beer sales to June 2014 and formed the biggest category in the Great American Beer Festival. Sale of craft beer overall increased 18 per cent by volume in the same period.

The association says craft beer is now moving into the mainstream as volumes grow and increasing numbers of people from different age and backgrounds give it a try.

In 2013 craft beers claimed $14.3 billion of America's $100 billion beer market.

The number of craft brewers is increasing at a rate of 1.5 a day, and more than 2000 are being planned.

Prickly Moses Blueberry Hefewiezen (Barongarook, Victoria)
★★★★
330ml $4.65

Prickly Moses introduces blueberries to the southern German wheat beer style. The full flavoured ale displays the rich and enduring head of a good wheat beer, and the fruity aromas and flavours. Definite blueberry notes come through on nose and palate and the beer finishes with typical wheat ale tartness.

2 Brothers Growler American Brown Ale (Moorabbin, Victoria)
★★★★
330ml $4.23

The aroma of molasses, toffee and roasted coffee beans seems to fit the brooding, deep brown colour. The molasses and toffee flavours come through on the surprising buoyant and lively palate. They give an impression of richness and warmth, delicately offset by mild bitterness – but not enough to detract from sweet, comforting malt flavours.