Craft beer? Craft brewer? The Brewers Association has it’s reasons to define a craft brewer. It doesn’t define craft beer. The term “craft beer” is thrown around quite a bit by beer drinkers, enthusiast and brewers. There have been lots of confusing references.
What are your feelings about craft beer? This poll is not a scientific poll nor is it very sophisticated, but it may give readers a taste of where beer drinkers are at – at least the readers of examiner.com on this site. Feel free to offer your comments below after you've cast your response.
As a basis let’s define some terms, which will help frame your response.
Using abbreviated Brewers Association definitions of small, independent:
Small: Annual production of beer less than 2 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition.
Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer.
Only one vote per IP address and computer. Sorry - If you are using a company or other network, it is likely only one person on the network will be permitted to vote
Poll closes July 6, 11:59 p.m.
Craft Beer? Do you know it if you see it? Do you know it if you drink it? Visit CraftBeer.com.
Watch the movie Beer Wars
Invitation: Write your comments below.
Comments
I think there is an option missing. A craft beer is surely a beer made using traditional ingredients, regardless of the size of brewery?
It'll be difficult to come to a consensus if you're using subjective phrases like "real and elevated flavor profiles more distinct..." in your definition. You can't argue with quantifiable facts like "small" and "independent" which you have predefined.
And here I thought "craft beer" meant it was made in small, independent breweries! I am open to learning.
Seems like the term "craft" is missing in all of these definitions.
Websters defines the verb "craft" as: "to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity." The noun as: "an occupation or trade requiring ... artistic skill." The term "art" is given as a synonym which is "the conscious use of skill and creative imagination" and "the faculty of executing well what one has devised."
This is the essence of craft brewing. In the US, this has historically (at least in the last 40 years) been performed by the smaller breweries, so the term "craft" as it applies to craft beer has come to be associated with beer produced by the smaller breweries, the so called "craft breweries."
Does this mean that larger breweries are incapable of producing craft beer? Certainly not. It's debatable if they have done a good job in this regard to date.
The poll needs an other category. To me a craft beer is one made by the loving care of the brewer, not because some marketing genius told them to make it. It it sells, so be it. If not, then it is enjoyed by the makers. By extension, a craft brewery is one in which the brewers decide what is made and what is their signature, irrespective of size, methods or ingredients.
The size of the brewery is irrelevent, it is the skill and creativeness that gas gone into the brew that makes a craft beer a craft beer. It will probably involve a small production as it will be the product of a skilled hands-one brewer, but this is not an essential requirement. The flavour profile will be distinctive, and probably unique to that brewer.
@Velky Al:
The problem, Velky, then becomes defining "traditional". A problem because corn, rice, and even sugar can be considered 'traditional'.
I understand why the small artisan brewers want to differentiate themselves from the big corporate kettle guys...but maybe we're just too hung up on definitions and putting things "in a box".
Really, in the end, good beer is good beer.
Matters not where it comes from.
I agree with the current BA definition of Small,(disagree with 2 million barrels being small), Independent and Traditional. A Contract Brewery such as Boston Beer Company should be disqualified. A better definition would be Small < 250,000 bbl's/yr., Independent, and Traditional with production taking place only in your own Brewery. I believe BBC needs its own category, how about Contract Craft Beer. Having others brew your beer is not a Craft.
Brian makes some good points regarding the definitions of "craft" and "artistic." Specifically, "to make or produce with care, skill, or INGENUITY" and "the conscious use of skill and CREATIVE IMAGINATION." (emphasis added). IMHO, that is what is missing from the definitions in the poll. A small "craft" brewery could create their own version of Light American Lager, using corn or rice, and maybe even owned 40% by a large brewer, BUT, it could still be created with imagination and ingenuity. The reality is that minority ownership by a large National brewery gives a craft brewer tremendous market edge, and in some ways levels the playing field at the local beer store. This is to be admired, not disdained...so long as the large National does not have a CONTROLLING interest or directive authority in the smaller brewer.
If it is good craft beer, I'll know it when I taste it. (apologies to Justice Potter Stewart)
Size of the brewery shouldn't necessarily enter into it, though in practice it usually will. Craft beers are constructed the way a craftsman would build something, which almost by definition means that it wouldn't be mass produced. If a large brewer does a one-off and makes a limited production beer, I think it could be referred to as "craft." For example, Gordon Biersch in general makes large batches of Marzen and other beers that I wouldn't necessarily refer to as craft since the goal is to make rather generic beer in large quantities. On the other hand, I had a couple of their beers during SF Beer Week, including a dunkel and a dampfbier, that I would argue deserve to be called craft beers. The size of the producer shouldn't be the determining factor. I would argue that the size of the batches is more important.
I voted but I think the selections were flawed to begin with. I think of craft beer as being brewed by a craft brewer. I don't think the size of the company or flavor profiles should factor in at all. I want to drink beer brewed with love and passion and have some sort of assurance that the brewery is making decisions based primarily on their palate and not the sales sheet. I want the know the brewer and owners go home and drink the same beer I am and love every sip.
Craft Beer means CHOICE......
Tried a new craft tonight. It is called "Witt" made by Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY. Similar to Blue Moon, except has a more sophisticated taste...
When I think of "craft beer" I think of it as "art you can drink". It's a beer that is special, independantly brewed (on a small scale), without specific regard to traditional ingredients that provides us with a superior drink. It's a beer not brewed for profit per se but for a unique flavor profile and the challenge of creating something new.
The term craft beer is so over used. To me a 'craft beer' is a small batch consumed locally. The art of making beer is a craft itself; does that make every beer not produced by Budweiser, Coors, or Miller a craft? It sure seems like that is how they are labeled.
Any beer that is shipped half way across the country no matter how small the brewery, has graduated from the craft ranking. I think the term microbrew is a better fit.
Although many small independent breweries here in Brazil produce copies of mainstream light lagers, I still like to think they make craft beer , they just do not produce good craft beer but give them time,give them time.
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