WATCH: We ask a bunch of brewers what their biggest challenge is today

The Great American Beer Festival gets a lot of attention for the amount of people that file through the hall over the course of the week to sample beers from around the country, but we maybe don’t spend enough time reflecting on the sheer amount of craft breweries now participating. We are approaching 5,000 craft breweries in the country, and as the number continues to climb, the milestones are starting to lose meaning. At least for us.

To add some meaning back to the big number, and to put human faces back on this “industry,” we set out at this year’s GABF to chat with random, local breweries from around the country about their business, the challenges they are facing and what it is that they love about making a living in brewing. Thanks to everyone who took the time to chat with a couple awkward dudes interrupting their good time with a camera. Enjoy!

And if you missed it, here is our Ultimate Guide to this year’s GABF.