As I write this, the rain is outside my office. Yes, the times are so strange that Los Angeles is wet.
And it may be too soon yet to look to the future, what with the daily really everywhere around us. But I want to tackle what the craft beer world will look like after this crisis passes.
Instead of diving into the whole picture, let’s look at those breweries with extensive barrel-aging programs. This has stuck with me over many days as bans and stay-at-homes have proliferated.
Because, what type of inventory that a brewery had could well dictate how they look on the other side of it. Logistics of brewing are hard enough. Trying to time ingredient ordering and to have staff on hand and then juggling tank space is pretty close to an art form.
Now, you add uncertainty of selling your finished product. I would not sleep a wink with all these variables swirling in my brain. I would assume that production would slacken until, taprooms can reopen safely. When that blessed time comes, taps will not be at full strength.
But if you have beers aging and ready, well, now you are not only open but open with a bang, with something special. Maybe that higher end product can be the first lifeline to a brewery that is in need of an infusion of cash
IPA may be king but it may not be the beer that will come to the rescue. If rain can dampen SoCal, other minor miracles can happen too.