Is craft beer really better? The answer is yes, yes, and yes. Here’s why.

While the microbrewery boom may seem relatively new, commercial beer is the real rookie in the room. For centuries, people brewed small batches of beer using natural ingredients that were locally available to them. And, it turns out, brewing beer with this smaller-scale traditional method rather than in massive commercial warehouses using cheap, low-quality ingredients, is way better for us, in every single way.

Here are just a few reasons why craft beer wins:

1. Craft beer is better for your health – Compared to commercial beer, craft beer has way more phenolic compounds, which are responsible for tannins, flavonoids, and basically everything that makes it taste great. Phenolic compounds have natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and antimicrobial properties. They can also help boost your immune system, protect your brain, and support a balanced, happy digestive system. Porters, like Falling Sky’s Puddles - Roasted Chocolate Porter, have the highest antioxidant count, and hoppy ales, like Falling Sky’s Yell-OOO IPA, help mitigate the negative impact of alcohol on your liver. So, am I saying that craft beer is basically a green smoothie? No. But… kind of.

   
   

2. Microbreweries support your local economy & community – By drinking at local microbreweries, like Falling Sky in Eugene, you are putting money directly back into the local economy. This not only benefits the brewery itself but also the farmers who supply it, the staff who run it, and the folks who frequent it (including yourself) – it supports the healthy flow of money throughout the community at large. Some especially cool microbreweries (ahem... Falling Sky) actively give back to their communities by hosting events and gatherings. Falling Sky also contributes through its “Pour It Forward” program which helps raise funds for local non-profits, small businesses, and entrepreneurs.

   
   

3. Local beer is environmentally friendly – Commercial beer’s carbon footprint is gigantic, with all the transporting of ingredients, large-scale production, packaging, and distribution. On the other hand, microbreweries like Falling Sky are more likely to use locally-grown ingredients, which cuts down on transportation distances and supports local farmers. Using a small-batch brewing process also cuts down on energy needs for production (and prioritizes quality over quantity). Microbreweries tend to need less packaging because they distribute smaller amounts of product over shorter distances. Falling Sky is also super easy to get to by foot, bike, or bus! All of these things combined mean microbreweries have a notably smaller carbon footprint than commercial breweries.

To summarize, craft beer is better for you, your community, and the environment, so… everything that matters. And let’s not forget, that

Whether you love Hazys, Red Ales, Lagers, Stouts, Sour beers, bitter beers, Porters, or traditional IPAs, Falling Sky has your back – in fact, they have a rotating menu of unique, high-quality, award-winning beers of all kinds. So, come on down and Let It Pour!!