If an ingredient wasn't added to beer 200 years ago in Bavaria, we don't add it here and now. In addition to attracting avid beer lovers, Ferguson adds, Gordon Biersch caters to those who simply want to enjoy the brew-pub scene. It's a general tendency we're seeing with a variety of products, from coffee to wine. People have developed a taste for something a little more sophisticated than Budweiser. The lack of distinction among products from large breweries, according to Ferguson, is one impetus behind the success of microbrews.
Smaller brewers are able to develop a regional flavor.
Another factor may be this country's strong tradition of beer-brewing. The nation's first three presidents brewed their own beer. The industry didn't have the emphasis on national brands that characterizes it today. Brew pubs and microbreweries are bringing back pride in a home-grown product. Fans can show that pride by wearing their favorite establishment's colors.