The Internationalization of Craft Beer
Historically, little beer has crossed national borders, and the notion of small, locally oriented breweries exploring international operations seems unlikely. Yet, the market for craft beer has changed tremendously since the 1970s, and international linkages have played an important role in these changes. While the most immediate cross-border manifestation of these connections is exports, this chapter argues for a broader conceptualization of this development. The very fact that the terms “craft beer” and “craft brewery” are commonplace throughout the beer world can be taken as examples of an internationalization process which also includes fundamental steps such as the global diffusion of beer styles and brewing techniques. To help illustrate this process, the chapter develops a case study examining the evolution of craft beer in the United States.