The History of the Beer and Brewing Industry

Ignazio Cabras is a Reader in Economics, Business and Management at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK. In recent years, he has led several research projects investigating the significant role that microbreweries and pubs play within local economies, and measuring the positive impact of these businesses on communities and supply chains. David Higgins is a Professor in the Accounting and Finance Division at Newcastle University Business School, UK. He has published articles on Bass’ trademarks and business strategy during the nineteenth century, and the corporate strategies of some of the UK’s leading brewers. He is the guest editor (with Ignazio Cabras) of a special issue on the history of the beer and brewing industry.

Introduction: Beer, Brewing and Business History 1. A taste for temperance: how American beer got to be so bland 2. How beer created Belgium (and the Netherlands): the contribution of beer taxes to war finance during the Dutch Revolt 3. Vertical and financial ownership: Competition policy and the evolution of the UK pub market 4. Vertical monopoly power, profit and risk: The British beer industry, c. 1970-c. 2004 5. Happy hour followed by hangover: financing the UK brewery industry, 1880-1913 6. From reviving tradition to fostering innovation and changing marketing: the evolution of micro-brewing in the UK and US, 1980-2012 7. Death and re-birth of Alabama beer 8. New identities from remnants of the past: an examination of the history of beer brewing in Ontario and the recent emergence of craft breweries