It seems to be a case of beer crafting moving from a production economy to an 'heritage' economy.
In an 'heritage' economy, proximity, uniqueness and the story of the product matter more than the product itself. We have seen it happen in France for 'macaron', wine and cheese.
In an 'heritage' economy, proximity, uniqueness and the story of the product matter more than the product itself. We have seen it happen in France for 'macaron', wine and cheese.
More on 'heritage' economy (in french) : http://www.gallimard.fr/Catalogue/GALLIMARD/NRF-Essais/Enric...