Releases

Besides homebrewing, it’s the way that some of us got into craft beer in the first place—collecting, saving, and (usually) sharing bottles that would be kept in the cellar. But the culture has shifted, and the industry has shifted with it.

While some breweries play the local card, Anchorage Brewing’s location in a sparsely populated state—along with its focus on niche beer styles—has inspired creative ways to stoke demand and reach drinkers in lower latitudes.

No taproom, no distro; you just have to know. Brad Clark’s Private Press is an experiment in membership-only beer sales.

Special releases aren’t seasonal anymore. For many breweries, these have become a weekly or monthly affair. Add to that membership clubs that offer special access, and you need a way to track each bottle and can.

State laws often stand in the way of direct-to-customer shipping. Perhaps not for long.