Just In Time For July Fourth, Brewers Association Issues Declaration Of Brewing Independence

Declaration of (Brewing) Independence

In the course of human events, it became self-evident to Bob Pease that the pursuit of life, liberty and good beer required a declaration of brewing independence.

On Tuesday, the Brewers Association unveiled a way to identify beer from small and independent breweries: a seal that can be slapped on bottles, cans, six-pack holders and other beer-related merchandise.

"What inspired us was hearing the consistent drumbeat from our members," said Pease, president and CEO of the Colorado-based Brewers Association.

Members worried that recent acquisitions of craft breweries by multi-national corporations — Pease cited Anheuser-Busch InBev's purchase of North Carolina's Wicked Weed — are confusing consumers. Is this beer from an independent company with local roots?

Read more about the declaration of brewing independence on The San Diego Union-Tribune.