What Is Craft Beer?

Bonnie
Jul 25
7 min read

Updated: Jul 26

What IS CRAFT BEER?

What does Craft Beer even mean?

Craft Beer. Two little words and a passionately debated topic amongst beer drinkers, around tables & bars stools all over the world. The discussions brew with varying opinions, loose definitions and common myths all play their part in the debate about what Craft Beer really means.

To shed some light on this burning question, this article aims to demystify the definition of Craft Beer as a brewing phenomenon; where it emerged, what makes it unique in brewing history, why is Craft Beer beloved by so many and we propose helpful ideas to broaden the conversation on the subject.

BEFORE CRAFT BEER: A BRIEF HISTORY

To begin, we must examine why the craft beer brewing movement emerged in the 1960's in U.S.A.'s Golden State: California. Craft Beer begun as a revolution to the profit-driven, big beer industry. Craft Beer's genesis was to make beer great again in the United States of America.

For roughly 6,000 years, human beings have been brewing grains to extract their spirituous virtues, socialize and trade. Brewing is directly linked with the birth of civilization and a key factor in why nomadic human tribes shifting into settlements. Emerging in Mesopotamia, ancient beer moved along to Egypt, around with time crossed the Mediterranean Sea to mainland Europe, where brewing traditions thrived over the course of centuries A.D. (Germany, Belgium, England, the Czech Republic, Ireland amongst others).

As for North America, beer was introduced in the 1800's by immigrants from Germany and Bohemia who arrived to The New World. These beer-loving pioneers rebuilt their beer culture from scratch in a land where hard liquor and its reckless drinking culture prevailed. By the mid-1800's, rich Munich-style lagers were commonplace and by the end of the century, the crisp Pilsner was the prevalent style at brewpubs.

During Prohibition in early 1900's, German brewers were forced to go underground and all alcohol was temporarily outlawed. Post-prohibition, beer production shifted away from fresh draft beer toward bottled brews. Innovators like Colonel Pabst, August Busch and the Schlitz brothers with visions of national distribution and hefty profit margins were finally able to realize their dreams thanks to industrialization, mechanization, the birth of the aluminum can and refrigeration technology. Beer history took a major shift and by the end of World War II, beer was being drank mostly in bottles, at the home instead of on draught at the pub.

Profits soared. Quality sunk. Flavour was trivial. Beer was cheap & dull.

THE BIRTH OF CRAFT BEER!

California, U.S.A. 1960's-1970's. Craft beer is born!

This brewing revolution humbly began for the love of beer, as an opposition to Big Beer, an anti-thesis to the status quo. Pioneer brewers in various states of the time, such as Lagunitas, Anchor Brewing Company, New Albion Brewing Co., set out to make beer great again!

Local. Fresh. Interesting. Small scale. Community driven. Flavourful.

First spreading North from California to Washington State, then from the West Coast to the East Coast, craft beer determinately inspired new brewers through the 1970's, 80's and peaked in the mid 1990's across Colorado, New York, Illinois, Massachussetts, Vermont and Maine.

CRAFT BEER ON THE RISE

Craft brewers had to patiently and persistently educate bars owners, distributors, beer-drinkers and communities about fresh, unfiltered beer, unfamiliar flavours and styles like IPA's or barrel-aged beers. The movement took off thanks to breweries like Sierra Nevada, The Alchemist, Allagash, Russian River, Dogfish Head, Sam Adams, Boston Beer Company, Goose Island, Tree House, New Belgium, among (so many) more. Their impact helped craft beer gain momentum in pubs, bottle shops and festivities across the country.

Another major element in the origin of the Craft Beer Movement: hops (the lovely aromatic flower used in brewing) were being re-invented. Up until this point, hops were used for their preservative and bittering qualities in beer making; their aromas being besides the point.

This all changed in Washington State U.S.A. with a hop breeding program by the Oregon State University. Through studies and experiments, they introduced new hop varieties with remarkable aromatic qualities (pine, fruit, citrus, bubble gum, dank, etc) and hearty agricultural capabilities. Hello Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe and Mosaic hops!

Beer drinkers began to delve slowly into hop-forward beers which also meant hazy/cloudy, bitter, mind-blowingly aromatic & entered a fresh wave beer varieties.

CRAFT BEER ACROSS THE WORLD:

GREECE

This Craft Beer wave has been rippling across the world since the 1990's and early 2000's. Here in Greece, the first craft brewery emerged in 1997, followed by others in early 2000's and the movement properly exploded in 2017.

We now count over 115 independent micro-craft-nomad breweries in the country!

Following in the Craft Beer phenomenon, homebrewing has become accessible with equipment & ingredients readily available. All the while, Greek beer drinkers are thirsty for more flavour in their brews, having tasted styles from North America and mainland Europe. The local taste buds are shifting away from ice-cold pale lagers to a wider range.

Let it be known that Greek Craft Beer is top notch; Greece is a must-visit beer destination!

WHAT IS CRAFT BEER?

Contrary to mainstream beer hype, craft beer does NOT mean the IPA style, nor is it always bitter, nor is it a always good-tasting either!

Craft beer is essentially about the love of beer. That's how it emerged in the first place, as a counter-movement to cheap, dull, commercial beer.

Although opinions & personal experiences vary greatly on what Craft Beer really means, there are a few fundamental elements to consider and add to your next beer-related conversations.

CRAFT BEER DEFINITIONS

1. Definition of craft according to Merriam-Webster

CRAFT : to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity

/ A carefully crafted story

2. Brewers Association of the United States

This legendary association defines an American craft brewery as “a small and independent brewer”.

According to them, a craft brewery must be:

SMALL: having a maximum annual production of 6 million barrels of beer (about 45 million pints or 364 olympic-size pools).
INDEPENDENTLY OWNED: only up to 25% controlled “by a beverage alcohol industry member that is not itself a craft brewer.”
BREWERS: they must have a federally issued permit and, naturally, brew beer.

3. The Craft Beer Channel

The awesome UK-based beer geeks, define craft beer as:

" Craft beer is a race to the top.

It is brewed with the intention of putting flavour and process above cost.

It can be innovative or traditional, served in any format, and does not have to come from an independent or small brewery – but it must not do damage to the industry’s reputation or any other brewery’s freedom to produce beer to the best of its ability. "

4. My very own beer lover and specialist assessment:

As far as my research, experience and discussions have taken me, Craft Beer boils down to: innovation, craftsmanship & mindset.

INNOVATION

As far back as brewing goes in human history, brewers have had little control over the magical natural process of fermentation. Until the 1850's when microbes were discovered along with their function in beer-making, humans didn’t quite know what was responsible for creating alcohol (it was the microscopic yeast all along!). It was crucial for them to think on their feet & find creative solutions in order for their brewing to succeed.

Innovation in today's brewing comes through the spectrum of new styles and ingredients; re-inventing historic recipes, cutting-edge technologies, imaginative ingredients, pushing the boundaries of flavours & always looking for ways to make the best beer possible.

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Craft beer was born as an opposition to beers without soul. Passion drives craft brewers forward. Although most modern breweries of all scales use machines, automated systems and button-pushing, a craft beer can not be defined without the craft itself: the care for the process and product. A craftsman is someone who is proud of their work, passionate about their creations; the same way Mozart, Michelangelo & Coco Channel were about theirs. Craft Beer is beer with spirit behind it.

MINDSET

Craft beer takes a page from beer production pre-industrialization, when fresh beer was made by the people, for the local people. Craft breweries support their community.

Not only do they provide employment, economic drive, a friendly place for patrons to gather at the pub/taproom & resolve issues; they also often collaborate with other brewers, local organizations, festivals and projects.

At the ownership level, there must be a spirit of togetherness, of “more is more” mentality, of give and take. It’s for the greater good.

CRAFT BEER MYTHS

"All large breweries are bad." While some mega companies take advantage of their position, the community mindset & welfare of employees are not reserved for craft breweries only. It can also be part of large commercial breweries, which sometimes have more resources to care more for their people and make a positive impact.
"Craft Beer is the best kind of beer!" Craft beer doesn't always taste good! Sometimes, it just doesn't work out. It's in Craft Beer's nature to be experimental & it is common for certain brews to be unpalatable or plainly spoiled. In fact, one of the most significant achievements in brewing the ability able to control their product & offer stable, consistent products. That isn't always the case in Craft Beer.
"Cool Branding = Craft". Be careful not to be fooled by the beer branding or bottle design! Just because it "looks craft" does not always mean it is craft. There's a fair chance it could be owned by a soul-less multinational beverage company who only measure things in money. How to find out who owns what? Simply look up the brewery online and see beyond the marketing.

Craft beer is important.

Craft beer is interesting.

Craft Beer has delicious potential.

Great Craft Beer is worth every penny.

Those are the types of beers we pick for our Craft Beer Tours in Crete - Greece.

We experiment on our tours with food pairings, new beers to present, changing the beer tasting menu often to welcome epic brews, for travellers to discover and enjoy!

DISCOVER OUR BEER TOURS IN GREECE

Let us know in the comments below which is YOUR definition of craft beer??

Love Craft Beer & Travel stuff?

Love & beer!

- Bonnie