There’s never been a better time to be a beer drinker, with thousands of breweries across the country offering a virtually endless variety of beer. But it wasn’t always this way. After Prohibition ended, lawmakers didn’t legalize homebrewing—whether by design or by accident is unclear. While this didn’t dissuade underground homebrewers, it did prevent the commercialization and spread of craft beer. By the 1970s, fed up with the lack of variety in beer, consumers began to demand more freedom… and President Jimmy Carter delivered. (Yes, Jimmy Carter.) This documentary short by FedSoc Films explores the story behind the craft beer renaissance and the importance of well-crafted legislation.

Six experts and beer drinkers discuss the story of American Craft: Trevor Burrus (Cato Institute), Garrett Peck (historian and author), Daniel Vilarrubi (Atlas Brew Works), Justin Cox (Atlas Brew Works), Candace Moon (Dinsmore & Shohl), and Anastasia Boden (Pacific Legal Foundation).

As always, the Federalist Society takes no particular legal or public policy positions. All opinions expressed are those of the speakers.

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Experts (in order of appearance): 

Trevor Burrus, Research Fellow at the Cato Institute
Learn more about Trevor Burrus: www.cato.org/people/trevor-burrus
Follow Trevor on Twitter: @TCBurrus
https://twitter.com/TCBurrus

Garrett Peck, Historian and Author
Learn more about Garrett Peck: http://garrettpeck.com/
Follow Garrett on Twitter: @garrettpeck
https://twitter.com/garrettpeck

Daniel Vilarrubi, Head Brewer at Atlas Brew Works
Learn more about Daniel Vilarrubi: www.atlasbrewworks.com/about-atlas/
Follow Atlas Brew Works on Twitter: @AtlasBrewWorks
https://twitter.com/AtlasBrewWorks?lang=en

Justin Cox, Founder and CEO of Atlas Brew Works
Learn more about Justin Cox: www.atlasbrewworks.com/about-atlas/
Follow Atlas Brew Works on Twitter: @AtlasBrewWorks
https://twitter.com/AtlasBrewWorks?lang=en

Candace Moon, Craft Beer Attorney at Dinsmore & Shohl
Learn more about Candace Moon: https://www.dinsmore.com/candace-l-moon/
Follow Candace on Twitter: @BrewLaw101
https://twitter.com/brewlaw101

Anastasia Boden, Attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation
Learn more about Anastasia Boden: https://pacificlegal.org/staff/anastasia-p-boden/
Follow Anastasia on Twitter: @Anastasia_esq
https://twitter.com/Anastasia_esq?lang=en

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Differing Views & Related Links:

The Atlantic: “How Jimmy Carter Saved Craft Beer”
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2010/08/how-jimmy-carter-saved-craft-beer/315886/

The Atlantic: “Jimmy Carter: Not the King of Beers? (Updated)”
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/08/jimmy-carter-not-the-king-of-beers-updated/61599/

CraftBeer.com: “Craft Brewing Growth Statistics for 2017 Released by the Brewers Association”
https://www.craftbeer.com/editors-picks/craft-beer-growth-statistics-for-2017-released-by-the-brewers-association

The Washington Post: “The craft beer industry’s buzz is wearing off”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/04/10/the-craft-beer-industrys-buzz-is-wearing-off/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.292a5a3c5806

The Atlantic: “Craft Beer Is the Strangest, Happiest Economic Story in America”
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/01/craft-beer-industry/550850/