In today’s Washington Post, they identify an interesting trend to which I can attest. Beer makers are starting to learn a thing or two from their counterparts within the wine industry.

The beer industry wants their product to be know for something other then crazy college parties.  (Oh the memories of Genny Light and college.)  They want beer to be something that a serious alcohol consumer would want to partake in.

If you go into a liquor or grocery store, in the beer aisle, you’ll see something that looks like wine bottles next to the endless rows of six packs.  No it’s not wine.  It’s beer.

Breweries are starting to put some of their more rare brews into 750 ml bottles and using a cork and wire cage on the top to hold everything in.   The hope is that buyers will understand that it’s a higher end product.

So why has beer always had the image of a lower class product?  The article traces it back to 1066…

Garrett Oliver, head brewer for Brooklyn Brewery, says that the way we view beer and wine reflects years of cultural baggage dating to 1066 and the Battle of Hastings. After the Norman Conquest, the blood-red wine of the conquerors became the quaff of nobility; the nut-brown ale of the defeated English became the drink of the common folk. But today, both beverages encompass a wide range of high- and low-end products.

Fascinating.  This is something that I didn’t know.

I personally think this is great.  Beer makers have something to offer.  There are a lot of great beers out there.  They need to do whatever they can to let folks know that it’s something worth paying attention to.

For example, I had this really great Dogfish Head Sah’tea a few weeks ago.  It was like nothing I had had before.

What’s a new or different beer that you’ve had recently that wasn’t on draft at a bar or out of a six pack?