New ideas, new brews, and new news. Is Sam Adams too big to be considered ‘craft beer’? Are craft beer firms overvalued? Are you excited for Great Divide’s new releases? I explore these hard-hitting questions and more in this edition of the Weekly Growler Fill.

How to Get a Job 101: Beer Resumé 

Having a hard time getting hired? Follow suit with this guy and put your resume on a pack of beer!

Is Sam Adams Too Big for Craft Beer?

This article does provide some interesting facts, but to offer up my own experience/opinion, I think we should continue to call Sam Adams a craft brewery. Why? Because after talking to one of the head brewers over at Boulevard Brewing on a recent vacation, he convinced me that it’s a good thing. This is what he said:  having Sam Adams remain ‘craft beer’ means that a large part of the beer market remains ‘craft.’ When arguing for better beer laws, you can use this market power to help sway legislators into passing better beer-friendly legislation because it can get them votes and tax dollars. If you lose Sam Adams, craft beer loses a large part of the market share and gives it up to brewing giants like Anheuser-Busch. Therefore, the craft beer industry will have less power when it comes to legislation and less power in general. I’m well aware that calling Sam Adams ‘craft beer’ seems like a reach but in the end, is it hurting anyone to continue doing so?

33 Best Beer Bars in the Country – as ranked by Brew Dogs

I will say I think a few bars are missing and some choices on this list seem a bit odd. Also, 33? I think 50 would’ve been nice – with one fantastic beer palace being in each state. With that being said, it is still a good list to check out if you’re traveling any time soon and need to know where to grab a quality brew!

The Best Craft Beers to Drink in Public

Are you feeling like you want to break the rules but don’t want to get in trouble? Check out this list to see some of the best craft beers to drink in public without getting caught – because they will most likely be mistaken for energy drinks, juice, soda, etc.

Collaborations:

Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Brewing Company + 6 other craft breweries in the Tampa area teamed up to create 6 different brews that were released on June 28th at the Bad A** Beer Fest. Who got to try them?

Colorado

Not only will there be over 200 beers at the Brewers Rendezvous, there will also be a special pseudo collaboration going on. Six different Colorado breweries will brew the same recipe, using the same ingredients, for a saison called the “Simultaneous Saison.” They will bring their creations to the Brewers Rendezvous in Salida on July 12th for craft beer enthusiasts to enjoy and decipher the differences.

Craft Beer Firms ‘Overvalued’

This is all according to Molson CEO, Peter Swinburn. I understand the point he is making, with the craft companies being expensive to buy, but isn’t that the point? I don’t think they want to be acquired by ‘water-that-tastes-like-beer’ producers like Molson Coors. Honestly, I think Peter is just jealous he has to sip on Coors Banquet while the rest of us are enjoying much more flavorful creations from the fabulous craft brewers around the country.

Great Divide Bringing Out Some New Brews: 

One of these brews, Heyday, may not be brand-spanking-new, but it hasn’t been out for a while. The others, to be released by July, are Showdown Rye IPA and Oatmeal Yeti. Luckily for me, I got to try them early around town and at the Great Divide 20th Anniversary party. All I have to say is, get excited to get your hands on these. You won’t regret it. #yetimafia