Flying "Three Sheets to the Wind"

I’ve just finished a book entitled Three Sheets to the Wind, by the English author, Pete Brown. Subtitled “One man’s quest for the meaning of beer,” Three Sheets is a highly entertaining romp around the world, from brewery to brewery and bar to bar, in which Brown attempts to put his finger on exactly what it is that universally unites people over a pint, a glass or a bottle of ale or lager.

Along the road, naturally enough, Brown makes numerous observations on what it is that separates a good pub from a bad one, and why some seem instantly attractive and welcoming, while others are just as quickly off-putting. For these insights alone, Brown’s book should be recommended reading for anyone in the trade.

But what makes Brown’s follow up to his exploration of British pub culture, Man Walks into a Pub, so uniquely enjoyable, aside from his occasional Bill Bryson-esque exploits, are the tidbits of information that crop up with astonishing regularity. Like this one: According to research conducted by Asahi, 18.5% of Japanese beer drinkers prefer their brew from a clay mug rather than glass. Or this: Munich’s beer gardens and bierkellers alone account for some 180,000 seats, or one for about every seven city residents.

Or this double-take inducing quote: “It’s been estimated that, counting imports, there are an incredible 3,400 different beers on sale in the United States.”

If that seems like an enormous number of brands, consider that there’s every reason to believe it’s actually quite the understatement! Because by Brewers Association estimates, there were 1,409 breweries operating in the country as of the start of August, 2006, a count which includes brewpubs, distributing craft breweries and the majors. Discounting a generous 250 of these operations for duplication – the multiple locations of the Rock Bottom and Gordon Biersch brewpub franchises, for example, plus the numerous breweries operated by the Big Three – that still leaves 1,159 independent breweries, or roughly one for every three brands in Brown’s estimate.

Having spent considerable time touring the breweries and beer bars of the United States, I can say without hesitation that there is no way each brewery in the country averages just three brands. More likely twice that, I’d bet, or even higher. But since it’s irresponsible to make such guesses without hard numbers, let’s just say that the average is more like 4.5 brands per brewery, which puts the number of domestic beers alone for sale in the United States at over 5,200. Add in all the imports and we’re likely up to about 6,000 brands.

Something to consider the next time you’re thinking about rotating your draft selection or expanding your bottle menu!