Story highlights September 28 is National Drink Beer Day

Consider a craft brew -- made in smaller batches by an independent producer

Whole overall beer sales were stale, craft beer sales grew 17.2% last year

Beer's devoted fanbase has been bubbling up ever since its invention in ancient Egypt. The elixir of water, malt, hops and yeast was even made illegal briefly in the U.S. during Prohibition.

Today, that passion has come to a head in the form of a craft beer boom. According to the Brewers Association, a craft brewer is defined by being small (six million barrels of beer or less), independent and using traditional ingredients in their beer.

The craft beer movement continues to grow at a staggering pace. While overall beer sales dropped slightly, craft beer enjoyed 17.2% growth last year. Despite that upswing, craft beer still only captures 7.8% of the overall beer market, which still leaves plenty of room for industry growth.

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Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – Visitors enjoy the evening at the Oktoberfest 2013 beer festival in Munich on Wednesday, October 2. Oktoberfest is the world's largest beer festival and runs September 21 through October 6. Hide Caption 1 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – A man lays on the ground at the beer festival on October 2. Hide Caption 2 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – Gingerbread cookies are sold at the festival on October 2. Hide Caption 3 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – Beer drinkers socialize in a tent at the festival on October 2. Hide Caption 4 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – A man swings a hammer down on a "strong man" game at the festival on Tuesday, October 1. Hide Caption 5 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – Spectators watch a concert at the festival on Sunday, September 29. Hide Caption 6 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – A man holds balloons as brass players perform in Munich on September 29. Hide Caption 7 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – People stand outside of the memorial for the victims of the 1980 Oktoberfest bombing on Thursday, September 26. Hide Caption 8 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – Father Paul Schaeferskuepper baptizes 6-month-old Elly Kaiser during the traditional Oktoberfest Mass on September 26. Hide Caption 9 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – Men dressed in traditional rifleman uniforms drink together at the festival on Sunday, September 22. Hide Caption 10 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – Beer drinkers laugh together in the Hacker-Pschorr tent at the festival on September 22. Hide Caption 11 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – Visitors wearing traditional Bavarian clothes sit outside the Hacker-Pschorr tent. Hide Caption 12 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – A woman takes a drink in the Hacker-Pschorr tent. Hide Caption 13 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – Revelers reach for the first beer mug at the Hofbraeuhaus beer tent during the first day of Oktoberfest, Saturday, September 21. Hide Caption 14 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – People celebrate the opening ceremony of Oktoberfest. Hide Caption 15 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – A man leans against a woman on Day One of Oktoberfest. Hide Caption 16 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – A large crowd gathers to drink on September 21. Hide Caption 17 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – A waitress delivers mugs of beer after tapping the first barrel. Hide Caption 18 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – A couple walk around the festival in Munich on September 21. Hide Caption 19 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – People raise their glasses after getting their first beer of Oktoberfest. Hide Caption 20 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – Revelers wait for the first beer barrel to be tapped. Hide Caption 21 of 22 Photos: Photos: Oktoberfest takes over Munich Oktoberfest takes over Munich – A man rests on a patch of grass on the first day of the festival. Here are 9 rules for surviving Oktoberfest. Hide Caption 22 of 22

New craft breweries are opening up all over the country, seeing a 15% increase in 2013. The Brewers Association says that most Americans now live within 10 miles of a craft brewer, so what better way to tap into this movement than by visiting your local craft brewery? The beer cannot get any fresher than directly from the taps at a brewery, and it's a great way to connect with the people who make your favorites. And to top it off, many brewers offer exclusive or small batch beers, which don't make their way into stores or bottles.

"We have seen the craft beer scene exploding in the south," says Justin Hall. He's the owner of Southern Beer Tours , a craft beer touring company based in Atlanta.

"Three years ago there were maybe five breweries in the area, and now there are more than 18," by Hall's reckoning.

Growth in the industry has inspired entrepreneurs like Hall to create business based on craft beer tourism. Hubs like San Diego, the Portlands (both Maine and Oregon) and Asheville, North Carolina, are leading the way as craft beer destinations. Cities like Atlanta are quickly following suit.

"Where this can go over the next 20 years is going to be huge as people's palates change and more and more people begin to appreciate craft beer," says Hall.

So whether you are heading around the corner to your local brewery or journeying to one of your favorite beer cities, raise a pint today in support of all things beer.