What does craft beer mean: briefly and clearly in a nutshell

Craft beer - an alcoholic beverage of private production, which is produced in small batches, where the main focus is on the taste, aroma and texture of beer.

Craft brewers are real experimenters who are on the lookout for modern technologies, classic recipes and beer trends.

In short

Craft beer, or as we call it craft beer, is:

1. Author's or old recipes brewed according to a unique recipe in mini-breweries.

2. Beer with a traditional base, which includes 50% malt, but with the addition of all kinds of additives (chocolate, chili, spices, moon dust and even lobster) that make the drink unique.

3. A real art that does not involve making a lot of profit and conveyor production of one variety (except for vintage), since real craft beer is produced in small batches, it never repeats itself.

4. 100% natural composition without any chemical impurities.

The history of craft beer

It all started with the first mini-breweries in the UK, which later led to the "craft revolution". The most prominent example is the Bill Urquhart Brewery, founded in 1975 in a village in Willingbro County. But in England, with its traditional abundance of local brews, the small brewery idea did not catch on, even though they demonstrated high flexibility in the range of products they offered, the ability to quickly respond to customer requests, and innovation and experimentation...

The triumphal march around the world began in America. When the Great Depression of 1930 saw authentic small breweries go under and be bought up by market giants Budweiser and Miller, it led to the loss of individuality in American beer. And then Americans began to brew beer with original flavors, first in small volumes for themselves and friends, and then for more people.

The word "craft" was first coined in 1983, when New Brewer magazine published an article by Vinson Cotton "Craft Brewing Comes of Age" about a Seattle brewery, calling it a microbrewery (craft brewing).

Two years later, Cotton defined craft beer: "I used the term craft brewery to describe a small brewery that uses traditional methods and raw materials to produce artisanal, uncompromising beer that is sold locally. I called it Real Beer.".

It was only 35 years later that craft production from two or three small private breweries became so popular that it was able to dictate its own terms to the market.

Everything you need to know about craft beer

The American and European variations of the definition of craft beer and craft brewing are most likely the criteria by which the product is evaluated, which makes it possible to determine the main difference between craft beer and ordinary beer.

It's worth noting that the American definition was given and fixed by the American Brewers Association:

1. The brewery should be small and produce no more than 6 million barrels of beer per year.

2. Freedom of action. This means that 75% of the brewery's capital should be owned by the brewery.

3. Traditionality. The basis of beer should be malt (at least 50%), and all kinds of additives (vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, spices) should improve the taste. But if a brewer tries to reduce the cost of production by adding various additives, then he will not be considered a craft producer.

The European definition, which is less regulated but still occurs in the beer literature, is that the production of a beverage should not be based on a commercial goal, but on a creative, innovative and experimental component. In other words, the brewer should look for new flavors, experiment with basic recipes and create a masterpiece, but without financial gain.

The first (American) definition seems logical. It is quite clear and measurable. It is really a criterion that can be met or not met.

Craft beer production in Russia

Russian laws make life very difficult for small brewers. If you add any additional product to the classic recipe, even a spoonful of honey, you must immediately register a new beer variety. But besides the paperwork, it costs a lot of money. And some craft beer producers are forced to work illegally or abandon creative experiments, which is contrary to craft brewing.

The most popular types of craft beer

1. Pale Ale (light ale)

   Craft light beer with a pronounced malt flavor and a characteristic aroma of hops and caramel.

2. India Pale Ale (Indian pale ale)

   This is a more intoxicating version of pale ale with a pronounced hop aroma, which may contain fruity, floral or pine notes.

3. Craft beer IPA

   The most popular variety among amateur brewers, because it is very easy to prepare. This craft drink is considered the most popular in Russia.

4. Porter

   Very dark beer, which combines both sweetness and bitterness, and the aroma has rich notes of malt. A distinctive feature of porter is wine notes with chocolate or coffee hints, which are felt in most versions of this type.

5. Stout

   A dark ale beer brewed using burnt malt obtained by roasting barley grain with the addition of caramel malt. Originally brewed in Ireland as a type of porter..

6. Sour Ale

   Tart beer with a pleasant sourness, a real summer trend. Fermented foamy drink thanks to wild yeast.

It is important to remember that the shelf life of craft beer directly depends on the strength of the drink. The higher the alcohol content, the longer the drink is stored.

If the strength of the foamy drink is 4%, then the shelf life does not exceed 3 months, craft varieties with a strength of 4 to 6% can be stored for about 6 months. Beer with an alcohol content above 6% can be stored for more than six months.

Update: 11.12.2017

Category: Beer, Cider, Ale