The craft beer industry has seen a resurgence in recent years, with more and more people turning to smaller, independent brewers for their fix. But what exactly is craft beer? And what sets it apart from the mass-produced stuff?
In this article, we will learn about what a craft brewer is, the difference between craft beer and mass-produced beer, and what makes craft beer so special.
What is a craft brewery?
A craft brewer is defined as a small, independent, and traditional brewery. Small means that the brewery produces less than 6 million barrels of beer per year. Independent means that the brewery is not owned or controlled by a large corporation. Traditional means that the independent craft brewery uses traditional brewing methods and ingredients.
Craft breweries are often local businesses that are deeply rooted in their communities. They care about the quality of their product and the people they serve it to. Brewers Association member breweries must have an annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less and be independently owned.
What is the difference between craft beer and mass-produced beer?
The main difference between craft beer and mass-produced beer is the way it is made. Craft brewing is all about quality, not quantity. This means that craft brewers use the best possible ingredients and brewing methods to create a product that is flavorful and unique.
Local beer is usually fresher and has more flavor than mass-produced beer because it has not been shipped long distances and sitting on store shelves for weeks or months.
Craft beer is also typically more expensive than mass-produced beer because of the higher quality ingredients and smaller batch sizes.
How do craft brewers work?
In the beer world, there are two types of brewers: macro-breweries and microbreweries. Macro breweries are large, commercial breweries that mass-produce beer for national distribution. Microbreweries are small, independently owned breweries that focus on quality over quantity.
The craft beer movement started in the 1960s with the rise of microbreweries. These small breweries were focused on making high-quality, flavorful beers using traditional brewing methods.
The beer production process usually starts with the brewer selecting a recipe. Once the recipe is finalized, the brewer will order the necessary ingredients, including malt, hops, yeast, and water.
Brewing beer is a multi-step process that involves boiling the malt, adding the hops, fermenting the beer, and then packaging it for distribution. The entire process can take anywhere from two weeks to two months.
The craft beer scene has exploded in recent years, with new breweries popping up all over the country. Many of these breweries are focused on making unique, small-batch beers and different beer styles using locally sourced ingredients.
What makes craft beers so special?
The definition of craft beer is always changing, but there are a few things that make craft beer special.
First, craft beer is usually made with high-quality ingredients and traditional brewing methods. This means that the beer is flavorful and unique.
Second, craft beer is often made by small, independent breweries. This allows brewers to be creative and experiment with different recipes and ingredients.
Finally, craft beer is typically fresher and has more flavor than mass-produced beer. This is because it is local and has not been shipped long distances or sitting on store shelves for weeks or months.
Conclusion
Craft beer is special because it is made with care and attention to detail. The brewers are passionate about their product and care about the people they serve it to. Unlike mass-produced beer, craft beer is made for people who appreciate quality and flavor.
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