10 Reasons You Should Drink Craft Beer
With the craft beer industry increasing rapidly throughout North America and the rest of the world, it is important to know what exactly craft beer is and why it is important to drink and support local, craft beer.
By The Beer Community on Apr. 05, 2019
What is Craft Beer?
A craft beer is a beer that is not brewed by one of the big “mega-brewery” corporations. More often than not, when the phrase craft beer is used, this is what it means:
According to the Brewer’s Association and CraftBeer.com, a craft beer designation comes from a brewery that is “small, independent, and traditional.” Click here to read more…
What is the difference between a craft, a macro, and a micro brewery?
Click here to find out!
Top Ten Reasons You Should Be Drinking Craft Beer
You’re supporting small businesses.
When you drink craft beer, you’re supporting small businesses, and more importantly, local businesses. Local businesses are lifelines for communities, so by supporting your local breweries, you’re helping your local craft beer industry grow.
You’re positively impacting the economy.
According to the Brewers Association for Small and Independent Craft Brewers, the craft brewing industry contributed $76.2 billion to the U.S. economy in 2017. This led to more than 500,000 jobs provided in America that year.
Check out this great article from Alberta Beer Festivals on why drinking craft beer can help Alberta’s economy.
Variety in flavours.
When you choose to drink craft beer, you’re simply allowing yourself to have more variety in beer styles and flavours. Craft breweries have the advantage and freedom to explore new and unique beer ideas. When you support these smaller breweries, they get recognition. This leads to brewers getting the opportunities to create more unique brews using ingredients commercial breweries don’t, which gives us more variety of beer flavours to choose from.
Craft beer tastes better.
Unlike mass produced and “big beer companies”, craft brewers are focused less on marketing and stock prices and more on the quality of their brew. Like we mentioned, craft brewers have opportunities to experiment with different recipes, ingredients, flavours, etc., and are constantly trying to produce new beers that are unique, but more importantly, taste good.
Food and beer pairings.
Pairing beer with food has become a huge trend in the craft beer industry and the food industry. Learning a beer’s profile and pairing your craft beer with specific flavours can really enhance and ameliorate a meal.
Click here for great ideas on how to pair craft beer with your favourite foods.
Craft beers tend to have a higher ABV%.
Simply put, craft beers usually contain more alcohol than watered down mass produced beer, like Budweiser or Kokanee. If that’s not enough to convince you to drink craft beer, then we don’t know what is. Most craft beers range from 5 – 10 ABV%, but some even reach alcohol levels up to 20 – 40 ABV%.
Different beers for different seasons.
Most craft breweries produce seasonal beers and use ingredients and flavours in these special, once-a-year brews that aren’t available year-round. It is very unlikely that the beer you want to drink in front of a fire place at Christmas time is the same beer you want to drink as you’re soaking up the summer sun. Thanks to seasonal craft beers, you can have a different beer based on the season and occasion.
Health benefits.
Researchers have found than craft beer has many health benefits, and some people believe craft beer contains more nutrients than red wine (Take that JustWine!). Craft beer contains fibre, vitamin B3, a huge range of antioxidants, and a rich source of silicon (the mineral that is essential to strong bones, clear skin, and flexible joints).
Craft beer promotes better conversation.
There are so many things to talk about when it comes to craft beer and it really is a great conversation starter. You can talk about the brewery the beer came from, flavour profiles, comparisons between other craft beers you love, and the list can go on.
Click here to learn how to talk about craft beer like a professional.
The craft beer community.
There is a huge community that revolves around craft beer and the people involved are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. Hang out in your local brewery’s tasting room to meet other craft beer drinkers, go on a brewery tour, check out a craft beer festival in your area, or join a craft beer Facebook group. There are so many ways to get involved in the amazing community of craft beer.
How to Introduce Someone to Craft Beer
Step 1: Explain the importance of drinking local
Like stated above, it’s important to support your local business! When you buy beers from your local breweries (a.k.a craft beer), you’re supporting those businesses. You’re fostering industry growth and you’re new opportunities for economic development in your city. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved!
To learn more about the #DrinkLocal movement, click here.
Step 2: Introduce them to craft beers similar to the ones they already love
If you take someone who is a Molson Canadian drinker only and try to give them a hoppy India Pale Ale or a bold Stout, chances are they aren’t going to love it. Take baby steps and use your JustBeer app to find similar beers and styles to brews the craft beer newbie already likes.
Step 3: Take them on a craft brewery tour
Brewery tours great way to learn more about your local brewery, the craft brewing process, and to meet other craft beer drinkers. Reach out to your local breweries to see if they offer tours or tastings. To find local breweries near you, click here.
Step 4: Throw a beer tasting party
If your local brewery doesn’t do tours or tasting, throw your own! Invite your friends and introduce them to all your favourite craft beers and maybe even some you haven’t tried yourself! For tips on how to host an awesome beer tasting part, click here.
Check out this post for more tips on how to convert your friends to craft beer and, more importantly, how not to be a craft beer snob.
Now that you know why it is important to drink craft beer, learn more about craft beer and the industry around it with these great links below:
Waterloo Brewing Awarded SMART Green Grant
What Temperature Should I Drink My Beer?
Everything You Need To Know About Rebranding a Brewery
How to Salvage a Frozen Beer