What is Craft Beer?
You have probably heard the term, “craft beer” thrown around a lot. If you’re not an ultra beer geek, you might not know exactly what that means. Well, it’s time you learned what craft beer means…
By Dustin Miller on Mar. 31, 2016
What does “Craft Beer” actually mean?
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.
However, it is a rather imprecise thing to define something by what it is not, so let’s take it a bit further…
According to the Brewer’s Association and CraftBeer.com a Craft Beer designation comes from a brewery that is:
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 a beverage 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 flavor derives from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients and their fermentation. Flavored malt beverages (FMBs) are not considered beers.
If you’re currently in the process of discovering craft beer, check out our post on the #drinkLocal social movement and find out why it’s important to you!
Now that you’re in the know about craft beer, you may also like:
- 10 Reasons You Should Drink Craft Beer
- Types of Beer: A Guide & List to Understanding Over 50 Different Beer Styles
- How to Choose a Craft Beer You’ll Actually Like
- Horoscope Quiz: What Beer You Should Drink According To Your Zodiac Sign
- What are the differences between ales, lagers and hybrid beers?
- What is Homebrewing?