From ales, lagers, stouts, to Indian Pale Ales (IPA), these variations of beers each have their own distinct differences in taste that allocate to different taste palettes. These same variations are what have caused beer lovers to develop a certain particularity in their respective favorites. This specificity has caused the craft beers to grow exponentially. While domestic beers come in cheaper and larger quantities, beer advocates have rapidly adapted their taste buds to crave the distinct taste of craft beers. This growing effect has even taken place in Orange County within the past decade. Local residents have begun to demand craft beers in local restaurants, bars, pubs, and liquor stores to which suppliers have antied up the amount of craft beers sold at the respective locations. One may call this rapid popularity in craft beers as a sort of 'beer fever.'
Small breweries have sprung up in Orange County to which customers visit as a weekly or local hot spot, especially during Happy Hours. Tustin Housing Brewery and Karl Strauss Brewing Company are but two popular locations to which Orange County residents visit to fulfill their craft beer cravings. Each specialize in craft beers alone and do not sell domestic beers in an attempt to preserve the handmade specialty that sets the craft beers apart from domestic beers. In Costa Mesa, the Karl Strauss Brewing Company is both a restaurant as well as brewery that brew a special flavor of beer right in the restaurant. The craft beer is fermented and brewed directly in the restaurant to allocate to their sole distribution of craft beers. Not only has Karl Strauss grown as a brewing company of craft beers, but also has helped expand the craft beer craze in Orange County.
“There are quite a few customers who come in and ask for domestic beers, such as Corona or BudLight, to which we have to tell them we only sell craft beers. Once we explain this, they act hesitant from straying from their loyalty to domestic beers,” said Coral Breceda, a hostess working at the Karl Strauss Brewing Company. “But, more than likely, they end up really enjoying the craft beers we sell. Some even come back for more.” This common customer reaction has caused suppliers, such as the Karl Strauss Company, to follow suit with their customer’s preferences and pursue a higher supply of craft beers. (For more information on Karl Strauss Brewing Company, read article below)
The craft beer fever has caught on to even less commercial venues, such as local liquor stores. Large portions of craft beers that are distributed to both large and small suppliers come from the heart of San Diego. San Diego’s source of craft beer has poured its way into small supplier’s inventories such as Mike Nassa’s liquor store, Bradley’s Fine Wine and Spirits in Tustin. To keep up to par with his customer’s needs as well as competition from other liquor stores and breweries, Nassa recently added craft beers to his store. Nassa is a new player to the craft beer industry for he only started selling craft beers within the past three years. At the start, he only had one fridge full of craft beers, but within the years he has expanded it to an entire wall filled solely of craft beers. “I know what my customers want and what they want is the quality of craft beers,” Nassa said. The demographic of Orange County is high enough for the quantities of craft beers to be sold at higher rates compared to neighboring counties. Nassa “know[s] that craft beer is for people who can afford it and [Orange County] is perfect for selling such beer.”
Bradley's Fine Wine and Spirits is not the only stores that started off with wine and other liquors before really expanding their inventory of craft beers. Hi-Time Wine Cellars, located in Costa Mesa, also took notice of the recent craft beer craze and has extended their craft beers to include international ones. Labeled tags with printed national flags of countries make it easy for customers to pick their international favorites in a refrigerated room. The variety of international craft beers allocates a wider selection for customers to choose from to which Orange County residents take advantage of thoroughly. Hi-Time has effectively upgraded their supply to adhere to the Orange County demographic of craft beer drinkers for the residents are typically more inclined to spend more money to taste the specially handled beer.
Throughout Orange County, beer lovers continue to drink all types of beer. Domestic beers are still a favorite, especially for large social gatherings due to the cheaper sale prices. However, the special and distinct taste that sets craft beers apart from domestic beers is what keeps the customers in Orange County thirsting for more.
Small breweries have sprung up in Orange County to which customers visit as a weekly or local hot spot, especially during Happy Hours. Tustin Housing Brewery and Karl Strauss Brewing Company are but two popular locations to which Orange County residents visit to fulfill their craft beer cravings. Each specialize in craft beers alone and do not sell domestic beers in an attempt to preserve the handmade specialty that sets the craft beers apart from domestic beers. In Costa Mesa, the Karl Strauss Brewing Company is both a restaurant as well as brewery that brew a special flavor of beer right in the restaurant. The craft beer is fermented and brewed directly in the restaurant to allocate to their sole distribution of craft beers. Not only has Karl Strauss grown as a brewing company of craft beers, but also has helped expand the craft beer craze in Orange County.
“There are quite a few customers who come in and ask for domestic beers, such as Corona or BudLight, to which we have to tell them we only sell craft beers. Once we explain this, they act hesitant from straying from their loyalty to domestic beers,” said Coral Breceda, a hostess working at the Karl Strauss Brewing Company. “But, more than likely, they end up really enjoying the craft beers we sell. Some even come back for more.” This common customer reaction has caused suppliers, such as the Karl Strauss Company, to follow suit with their customer’s preferences and pursue a higher supply of craft beers. (For more information on Karl Strauss Brewing Company, read article below)
The craft beer fever has caught on to even less commercial venues, such as local liquor stores. Large portions of craft beers that are distributed to both large and small suppliers come from the heart of San Diego. San Diego’s source of craft beer has poured its way into small supplier’s inventories such as Mike Nassa’s liquor store, Bradley’s Fine Wine and Spirits in Tustin. To keep up to par with his customer’s needs as well as competition from other liquor stores and breweries, Nassa recently added craft beers to his store. Nassa is a new player to the craft beer industry for he only started selling craft beers within the past three years. At the start, he only had one fridge full of craft beers, but within the years he has expanded it to an entire wall filled solely of craft beers. “I know what my customers want and what they want is the quality of craft beers,” Nassa said. The demographic of Orange County is high enough for the quantities of craft beers to be sold at higher rates compared to neighboring counties. Nassa “know[s] that craft beer is for people who can afford it and [Orange County] is perfect for selling such beer.”
Bradley's Fine Wine and Spirits is not the only stores that started off with wine and other liquors before really expanding their inventory of craft beers. Hi-Time Wine Cellars, located in Costa Mesa, also took notice of the recent craft beer craze and has extended their craft beers to include international ones. Labeled tags with printed national flags of countries make it easy for customers to pick their international favorites in a refrigerated room. The variety of international craft beers allocates a wider selection for customers to choose from to which Orange County residents take advantage of thoroughly. Hi-Time has effectively upgraded their supply to adhere to the Orange County demographic of craft beer drinkers for the residents are typically more inclined to spend more money to taste the specially handled beer.
Throughout Orange County, beer lovers continue to drink all types of beer. Domestic beers are still a favorite, especially for large social gatherings due to the cheaper sale prices. However, the special and distinct taste that sets craft beers apart from domestic beers is what keeps the customers in Orange County thirsting for more.