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Known for their unique branding, loyal clientele, and homegrown narrative, craft beers have slowly claimed their turf throughout the US. Mainly adopted by the millennials, these beers are upping their production, widening their distributions, and knocking on Big Beer’s door. If you’re into the craft beer, chances are that you have your favorite, and that you’ll defend it to the grave (or at least until your buddy makes you try his favorite and your eye starts to wander).

Back in the day, when American beer was first taking the spotlight, brewers were getting their inspiration from our neighbors in Europe—think Germany, Belgium, Ireland, etc. But now little Timmy has grown up, and he’s ready to take on his Dad, as more and more craft breweries are setting up shop in Europe.

For the last few years, craft breweries have been exporting their brews to an array of EuroCities. But these exports have only averaged out to cover less than 2% of all craft beer production. However, due to their popularity throughout Europe, craft brews are cutting out a part of the exporting process, and bringing the brewing overseas.

There are a couple of different ways breweries are going about this process. One way is by striking a deal with a European brewery and watching closely as they produce and sell your beer for you. And that’s exactly what San Diego based brewery Green Flash is doing; just recently, they made one such deal with a Belgian brewery called Brasserie St-Feuillien. Another route some brands are taking is to establish a fully functional brewery of their own. Stone Brewing Co. is leading the pack. Set to unveil late next year, this brewery is opening a new location in Berlin, Germany. It will include a brewery (duh), a farm-to-table restaurant, a packaging and distributing center, and a beer garden. Way to make yourselves at home, guys.

One way or another, we love our craft beer and we couldn’t be happier to see it spread its wings. Fly away intricately-designed-label-laden beer, fly away.

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