(Berlin, Md, 8-27-18): In an effort to promote the Eastern Shore as a Top 10 Craft Beer Destination in the U.S. and bring in business to the Shore’s craft breweries, bars, restaurants and hotels, Shore Craft Beer has released a promotional video titled “The Eastern Shore: A Top 10 Beercation Destination.”
It’s no secret that craft breweries attract tourism, specifically for “beercations” and otherwise, and have a major positive impact on local economies. The Brewers Association reports that small and independent American craft brewers contributed $76.2 billion to the U.S. economy in 2017, and provided more than 500,000 jobs.
The new Shore Craft Beer promotional video emphasizes such statistics; “Did you know almost half of all travelers will visit at least one brewery?” says the narrator, while images of the Shore’s world class beauty and footage from inside the local breweries flash across the screen. “More than 1/3 of all craft beer drinkers are millennials. 25% of weekly craft beer drinkers are women.”
The video also features images of political leaders on the Shore who are dedicated to making the region a craft beer destination, including Maryland Senator Jim Mathias, Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, Salisbury Mayor Jake Day and Cambridge Mayor Victoria Jackson-Stanley. This footage was shot at a recent Reform on Tap Happy Hour at Evolution Craft Brewing in Salisbury, where local dignitaries gathered with Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot to celebrate craft beer tourism in Maryland and discuss how to improve brewery legislation in the state.
“Tourism is critical. It’s critical in Maryland, and it’s absolutely critical to our partners in the east and west, in Ocean City and Cambridge, and it’s getting more and more critical in Salisbury,” Mayor Jake Day said during the Happy Hour. “I want [people] to come here and be able to enjoy things that were made here. We should make that easy.”
Mayor Rick Meehan emphasized the importance of local craft breweries when it comes to tourism in Ocean City.
“The craft beer industry, here on the Eastern Shore, it is growing and thriving,” Meehan said. “We have some of the best craft beers you’re going to find anywhere. You see these brews, you see these beers in other areas of the state now, people know who our craft breweries are here on the Eastern Shore.”
The Shore Craft Beer video specifically encourages “Beercation”-related tourism to the Eastern Shore through Shore Craft Beer Festivals, local brewery visits and tours, and use of the Shore Craft Beer app, where visitors can find craft beer near them and embark on regional beer trails and challenges.
“In Ocean City, I know how important the craft beer industry is for tourism,” Meehan said. “Shore Craft Beer Fests, we’re going on our fourth year… People are coming here to enjoy craft beer and to enjoy the Eastern Shore.”
“The Eastern Shore: A Top 10 Beercation Destination,” produced by Strang-Moya Media, can be viewed on Shore Craft Beer’s Facebook (Facebook.com/ShoreCraftBeer) and YouTube channel (@Shore Craft Beer).
Author: Kristin Helf
Kristin is a writer and picture-taker in Ocean City, Maryland. She likes puppies, pumpkin ales and watching movies for the Ocean City Film Festival in her spare time.
