Q: Has the craft beer bubble burst? It seems the popularity is waning.

Tom: I wouldn’t necessarily say burst, but the segment has definitely seen better days. Demographically, sales are down across all beer segments, especially craft beers. Recent closings of a few Charlotte-area breweries and tap rooms confirm that. There is rising competition from hard ciders and lemonades, plus the increasing popularity of low-ABV/no-ABV cocktails and CBD/cannabis beverages. There is also a production issue with recent tariffs on imported steel, aluminum, hops, and malt, impacting a small brewer’s ability to create and package their products. I think we’ve seen nearly the last of large “destination” breweries in favor of smaller hyper-local neighborhood ones, and the numbers seem to bear that out. While small breweries aren’t exactly thriving either, more are holding their own. That said, despite the closings, Charlotte breweries are hanging in there and continue to receive national recognition. If you want to see what they are up to, check out these craft beer releases for August.

Q:  I know it’s considered a fall vegetable, but is it too early to start looking for butternut squash at farmers markets?

Tom: Your timing is just about perfect. 2023 UPPY Farmers of the Year Wisdom & Cherie Jzar of Deep Roots CPS Farm have started to bring them to the farmers markets they participate in (Uptown and North End) — as well as their farm stand. Wisdom says that butternut squash typically comes in a bit earlier than many people think, but it takes a bit to cure them properly before they are ready for market. So while they may still be harder to find at this time, you may just get lucky this weekend.

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