A LITTLE ABOUT PAST AND PRESENT...PAST AND PRESENT Beer is America's most popular alcoholic beverage. Freshness, hand-craftsmanship and variety are only becoming recently the important qualities of beer in America. Although there were thousands of small breweries in the United States before the Prohibition, until a decade ago, only a handful of (mostly) large breweries existed, offering more 'consistency' than individuality.In the 1980's, as the state laws opened up the opportunities, the concept of microbrewery and brewpub took the United States by storm. (By definition, the difference between the two is that a brew pub sells its beer usually on the premises, while a microbrewery sells to restaurants and pubs.) There are over a thousand small breweries in the U.S. that have their own brewing equipment. Operating own brewing systems by many, allows the flourishing of individuality and variety in beer. more... See more text