Five things to know about craft beer this week

Look, we understand: Life moves fast and our content moves even faster. You’re probably not sitting at your computer, constantly refreshing our homepage waiting for the next story to go live. After all, you have a beer business to run. No, no … our feelings aren’t hurt *sniff, sniff*. Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine. In fact, we want to make sure you don’t miss any of the biggest posts from the past week. So whether you’re on a company conference call or slinging beers at the taps, here are five craft beer trends that are sure to get your customers and craft beer comrades talking, not to mention make you look super smart.

1. Your craft beer label makes an impact

Here’s a hard reality: People do judge a book by its cover, and in turn, judge your beer by its label. How much is it impacting your sales? This two-day study featured 193 “shoppers” (109 female, 84 male) who wore calibrated, eye-tracking glasses while selecting products from a list. Participant eye movements were recorded to provide insight as to why individuals selected certain products. What were the findings? Click here to read all about the importance of labels.

2. So do your eco efforts

From water conservation and clean energy generation to recycling and reuse programs, craft brewers tend to be a pretty environment-conscious bunch. We applaud your efforts and even tracked down some of the craft beer industry’s finest to get their thoughts on eco-friendly brewing initiatives and advice for what you can do at your own brewery. Did you know that having specific water-saving systems in place helps 21st Amendment Brewery weather the current California drought while conserving water? Click here to read the full story and learn even more.

3. Craft beer concoctions are getting craftier

Bull testicles? Really? It’s a competitive, ever crowded beer marketplace out there. Isn’t just making a finely crafted beer enough? Some breweries are taking it to extremes, and reaping the rewards. What does one of the pioneers of craft beer craziness, Rogue Brewmaster John Maier, think about all the insane ingredients happening in today’s craft beer world? Click here to watch the video.

4. Beer industry is booming, but so is tax demand on craft brewers

The good news? A new economic study highlights how the U.S. beer industry — from brewers and beer importers to beer distributors to retailers — generates nearly $253 billion in economic activity, produces $48.5 billion in tax revenue and supports 1.75 million jobs. The bad news? A lot of that will go to the government! As Sam Adams’s Jim Koch complained about in a company conference call. Click here to read the economic study and click here to read Koch on taxes.

5. Keep an eye on the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act

The goal is to provide tax relief to the nation’s craft brewers, cider makers, vintners and distillers, streamline a variety of complex regulations and significantly reduce compliance burdens for America’s craft beverage producers. The reality? Well, things are far from certain and politics are ever in motion. Click here to watch a Google Hangout in which U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) talk about the legislation and its potential impact on the industry.