Recession-Proofiness of Beer

Now that we are slowly and painfully climbing through the thick mud of a recession, listening to the wet-sucking of our GDP, chatter about the impact on craft beer has picked up. There are a couple of products/industries that are commonly touted as being recession-proof, including candy and beer. The explanation behind it is pretty simply. Folks may not be able to or want to buy a new car or a new stereo, but they'll still seek out the less expensive but enjoyable pleasures of beer. Of course, the discussion of beer being recession-proof has not been tested to the extent it is now in this craft-beer-crazy economy where premium prices go hand-in-hand with premium beers. This is the kind of crap that people who like to think they know what they are talking about but probably don't, like me, like to talk about (wow, what a painful, awkward sentence). Makes for good beer-chat.

Or it used to. Now this discussion is more than just idle beer musings. Now it's hitting close to home. I learned last night that a couple of friends have been laid-off. I've also got friends who are having their time/pay scaled back or are struggling to find jobs. There will certainly be more of this during the next couple of months. Now we'll all get to see just how recession proof beer is. Beer drinkers apparently aren't recession proof, but they are passionate and loyal. But passion and loyalty can only do so much. Hang in there gang. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and a friend at the end of the bar.