It seems like every week I hear about a new craft brewery popping up in the city where I live or the surrounding ‘burbs. A new craft beer store just opened down the road. Clearly, there’s massive demand for craft brews that these new businesses are aiming to satisfy.
It’s not just ambitious home brewers and beer-loving entrepreneurs embracing this trend, of course. Mega-brewers like Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors have been buying up smaller craft operations. Now another company you may have heard of is getting in on the craft game: Walmart.
Like most grocery stores, Walmart sells a selection of craft beer. But, starting in the past year, the giant retailer no longer just sells beer – they make it.
In the beer fridges of 3,000 Walmart stores around the country, you’ll find Trouble Brewing beers. While there’s no indication on the packaging that the beer was brewed for Walmart, Trouble is the chain’s own private label.
So, how is the stuff? Over on Beer Advocate, Walmart’s Cat’s Away IPA, Round Midnight Belgian White, Red Flag Ale, and After Pale Ale all rate in the 70’s, indicating they’re okay, inoffensive, and/or “drinkable.” (Let us know in the comments if you’ve tried ’em).
The good news: They’re cheap. Walmart sells the twelve packs and sixers for a little more than a buck per beer. That’s significantly cheaper than most (real) craft beer. So now, you can reward yourself for a productive Walmart shopping trip by catching an economical buzz.
Source: VinePair
