It isn’t too great a leap to wonder whether contracts could prove to be the lifeblood of the next wave of craft growth, or at least play a more significant role going forward.

Given the continuing economic doldrums and persistently high unemployment since 2009, it might be easy to start thinking of craft beer as “recession-proof.” But is it?

Most breweries lack a data-driven infrastructure offering the information needed for decision-making in an environment experiencing exponential growth.

Craft beer is part of a much larger phenomenon, rooted in a long-term evolution of American society and culture that’s still progressing.

With solid support lined up, expectations increase for a tipping point where craft brewers grow capacity, production, and sales and emerge from their niche origins to broad appeal.