What Is Craft Beer?

The Definition of Craft: What is the definition of "craft beer" and does it matter? The Brewers Association in the US has a strict definition ... that has changed over time. Is it even possible to entertain an indicator of "quality" when considering this? Does the cultural brewing heritage of Europe change what we mean by craft? We'll hear from Andrew Morgan, owner of The Bottle Shop

Transcript

3. What is ‘craft beer’?
4. An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional. Small Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less (approximately 3 percent of U.S. annual sales). Beer production is attributed to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Independent Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcohol industry member that is not itself a craft brewer. Traditional A brewer that has a majority of its total beverage alcohol volume in beers whose flavour derives from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients and their fermentation. Flavoured malt beverages (FMBs) are not considered beers. BREWERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
9. An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional. Small Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less (approximately 3 percent of U.S. annual sales). Beer production is attributed to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Independent Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcohol industry member that is not itself a craft brewer. Traditional A brewer that has a majority of its total beverage alcohol volume in beers whose flavour derives from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients and their fermentation. Flavoured malt beverages (FMBs) are not considered beers. BREWERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
11. A European Craft Brewery 1) Is Small Brews less than 500,000 HL annually. 2) Is Authentic a) brews all their beers at original gravity b) does not use rice, corn or any other adjuncts to lessen flavour and reduce costs 3) Is Honest a) All ingredients are clearly listed on the label of all of their beers. b) The place where the beer is brewed is clearly listed on all of their beers. c) All their beer is brewed at craft breweries. 4) Is Independent Is not more than 20% owned by a brewing company which operates any brewery which is not a craft brewery
18. Be wary of any brewery referring to themselves as ‘cra6’
20. When niche becomes something bigger
22. CRAFT BREWERIES?