For a Kinder, Gentler Society
Brewing Battles
A History of American Beer
  • Amy Mittelman
Reviews Table of Contents Introduction «Back
Brewing Battles . A History of American Beer
Sound Bite
Brewing Battles is the comprehensive story of American beer and the American brewing industry, from its colonial beginnings to the present. Although today's beer companies have their roots in pre-Prohibition business, historical developments since Repeal have affected the industry over all, from individual brewers like Anheuser-Busch to the micro-brewers, and have influenced the tastes and habits of beer-drinking consumers as well. This book explains beer as a business and as a pleasure in America.

About the Author

Amy Mittelman holds a Ph.D. in history from Columbia University, with a special focus on the politics of alcohol production, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Massachusetts. She is the author of “Who Will Pay the Tax” and “A Conflict of Interest” as well as many reference articles. Amy has taught history at Stevens Institute of Technology, Hampshire College and Mount Holyoke. She has taught nursing at Holyoke Community College, and she worked as a nurse for four years in a methadone clinic.

About the Book
From local and collegial to consolidated and competitive, the brewing industry followed a pattern that illustrates many of the changes that have taken place in the American business and cultural landscape over the past 100+ years. Brewing Battles...
From local and collegial to consolidated and competitive, the brewing industry followed a pattern that illustrates many of the changes that have taken place in the American business and cultural landscape over the past 100+ years. Brewing Battles explores the struggle of German immigrant brewers to establish themselves in America, within the context of federal taxation and a growing temperance movement, their losing battle against Prohibition, their rebirth and transformation into a corporate oligarchy, and the determination of home and micro brewers to reassert craft as the "raison d'etre" of brewing. Brewing Battles looks at beer's cultural meaning from the vantage point of the brewers and their goals for market domination. Beer consumption changed over time, beginning with an alcoholic high in the early 19th century and ending with a neo-temperance low in the early 21st. The public places where people drank also changed from colonial ordinaries in peoples' homes to the saloon and back to home via the disposable six pack. The book explores this story as brewers fought to create and control these changing patterns of consumption. Drinking alcohol has remained a favored activity in American society and while beer is ubiquitous, our country harbors a persistent ambivalence about drinking. An examination of how the industry prevailed in a sometimes unreceptive environment exemplifies how business helps shape public opinion. Brewing Battles reveals the complicated changes in the economic clout of the industry. Prior to the institution of the income tax in 1913 the liquor industry contributed over 50% of the federal government's internal revenue; 19th century temperance advocates portrayed the liquor industry as King Alcohol. Today their tax contribution is only 1% yet brewing actually has a much more pervasive influence, touching on almost every aspect of modern American life and contributing greatly to the GNP. Brewing Battles is this story.
More Information
Listen to Amy's interview on KSKQ 89.5 FM in Ashland, Oregon, with Ginger Johnson on Women Enjoying Beer.In between some good fun beer-drinking tunes, she quickly outlines the experience of American beer brewers in relation to shifts in government policy, Prohibition and Repeal, and changes in the business environment including corporate consolidations starting late in the 20th century.
Listen to Amy's interview on KSKQ 89.5 FM in Ashland, Oregon, with Ginger Johnson on Women Enjoying Beer.In between some good fun beer-drinking tunes, she quickly outlines the experience of American beer brewers in relation to shifts in government policy, Prohibition and Repeal, and changes in the business environment including corporate consolidations starting late in the 20th century.
Reviews
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Valley Advocate February 20, 2008 | More »
Springfield Republican, February 21, 2008 | More »
A Good Beer Blog | More »
www.brewingnews.com Aug/Sept 2008 | More »
Minnesota History | More »
US drinks to 75 years since end of Prohibition | More »
Will Beer Be the Next Casualty of the Crisis? | More »
Some issues transcend countries, eras | More »
Business History Review, Harvard University | More »

Pages 228
Year: 2007
LC Classification: TP573.U6M58
Dewey code: 641.2'309'dc22
BISAC: BUS023000
BISAC: CKB007000
Soft Cover
ISBN: 978-0-87586-572-0
Price: USD 22.95
Hard Cover
ISBN: 978-0-87586-573-7
Price: USD 34.95
eBook
ISBN: 978-0-87586-574-4
Price: USD 18.95
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