I think a major factor in the rise of the micro-brew in the US was removal of "government intervention". Brewing your own beer was illegal from Prohibition unti

I think a major factor in the rise of the micro-brew in the US was removal of "government intervention". Brewing your own beer was illegal from Prohibition until Congress and Carter changed the law and 1978. Home brewing was no longer outlawed and now one can legally brew up to 100 gallons of beer a year without paperwork. Much easier to get interested in brewing beer if you can easily do it legally.