Perhaps you are sitting at home now reading this, and at your elbow is a beer glass resting on a coaster. As you watch the logs in your fireplace shift and spark, and smell the distinct smokiness that comes when seasoned wood burns slowly, you take a sip of that local beer, with notes of orange peel, allspice, cardamom, honey, or even caramel.

While enjoying this moment, you’re probably not thinking about the resurgence in small-batch manufacturing, in which craft breweries play a major role. In fact, it’s pretty definite that—unless you are the owner of one—you’re not aware that craft breweries contributed $67.8 billion to the U.S. economy last year, and provided more than 456,000 full-time equivalent jobs. (Full disclosure—I do brew my own beer, but it’s really nice to be able to buy from a more diverse selection, especially when I can’t take my own with me.)

 …