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Sam Adams leaves the Craft Brewer world behind

A few days ago, it was reported that Sam Adams is going to be losing its status as a Craft Brewer, and joining the world of mega-breweries. This is not by choice, either by Boston Beer Co. Founder Jim Koch, or by the Brewers Association, unfortunately, they are a victim of their own success. In 1976 Congress passed a bill requiring that any brewery producing more then 2 million barrels of beer a year, no longer be considered a Craft Brewery and have a larger tax imposed on each barrel of beer produced. Craft brewers pay $7 dollars rather then the $18 that Boston Beer Co. will now be required to pay. Boston Beer meets the other conditions of being a craft brewer. It doesn't lighten its beers with corn and rice, and it isn't partly or wholly owned by an alcohol producer that isn't itself a craft brewer. However, due to the success of their brew, they still lose that status. About this Jim Koch stated simply " I don't think the IRS should be determining what craft beer is". Amen. To those of us who are fans of the many various brews churned out by Boston Beer Co. there won't be much differences, other then cost likely, since the brewery's cost will rise significantly.