Learning From the Beer Pioneers

When Boston Beer founder Jim Koch decided to start up a brewery in 1984, his inspiration came from his family -- in a reverse sort of way. As the well-told tale goes, Jim's dad -- a fifth-generation brewer -- tried to steer him away from a business he saw as too tough because of the ongoing wave of consolidation.

But today Jim's company is the largest craft brewer in the nation, with almost 1% of total beer sales. Many at the recent Craft Brewers Conference count Boston Beer among their most-admired companies. Our Rex Moore took on the tough assignment of covering the conference, and asked about other companies these brewers learned from. Today, Port City Brewing founder Bill Butcher talks about fellow craft beer maker Sierra Nevada.

A Boston buy?
Boston Beer's Samuel Adams brand helped to redefine beer and kick off the craft beer revolution in the United States. Success breeds competition, though, and while just a few years ago Boston Beer had claim over most of the craft beer shelf, today the field is crowded. Can Boston Beer rise above the rest, or will it be squeezed between small local breweries on one side and global beer giants on the other? To help you decide, we've compiled a premium research report filled with everything you need to know about Boston Beer's risks and opportunities. Just click here now to find out whether Boston Beer is a buy today.

The article Learning From the Beer Pioneers originally appeared on Fool.com.

Rex Moore has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Boston Beer. The Motley Fool owns shares of Boston Beer. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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