Staring at a bar menu and wondering what on earth “craft” beer actually means? Craft beer is huge right now, popping up in pubs, bottle shops, taprooms, Instagram posts and conversations everywhere.
Essentially, 'craft beer' is beer produced by small, independent breweries who prioritise quality, flavour, and creativity. In other words, the opposite of mass-produced beer.
Craft beer: a definition
Craft beer has a lot of definitions but the reality is, it’s beer from breweries who:
1. Are small and independent
Craft beer isn’t brewed by big multinational beer companies. It’s brewed by people with a passion for flavour and creativity.
2. Use quality ingredients
Craft brewers don’t skimp on flavour, use cheap additives, or take short cuts. Good quality hops, malt, yeast, and proper ingredients are what make the beer taste good.
3. Are creative
Craft beer brewers have the freedom to experiment with different flavours, hops, barrel-aging and more. This creativity results in better variety and more interesting beer.
4. Actually taste of something
'Craft beer' is beer that has character and flavour. Hazy, hoppy, juicy IPA’s, rich, malty stouts, funky sour ales… beers with a taste and a story to tell.
5. Engage with their community
Craft breweries invest in their local communities, providing jobs, serving local businesses and drinkers, and venues to meet up and get together. Community is a big part of the craft beer scene.
Mass beer vs craft beer
Mass beer is good because:
People like it to taste the same each time. Predictable, safe, familiar. It is designed to be mass produced, often in huge breweries with thousands of barrels a day, meaning it often has a short shelf-life and are brewed with the lowest costs in mind.
Mass beer focuses on huge scale, low costs, and familiar flavour.
Craft beer is different because brewers:
- Prioritise taste and quality over volume
- Focus on quality ingredients and proper brewing
- Experiment and innovate with flavours and styles
- Craft breweries take risks, they tweak their recipes and focus on flavour, not maximum sales.
Why people love craft beer
Better taste
The days of boring bland beer are long gone, people want flavour and character in a beer.
Variety
Light beer, dark beer, fruity beer. If you like a craft beer, you'll never run out of new ones to try.
Support local
When you buy a craft beer it means you're supporting a local independent business.
Authentic
Craft beer is made by people who prioritise quality over quantity, and are passionate about flavour.
What craft beer means to us at Hop Union Brewery
Craft beer is more than just a definition to us. We keep our batches small so that each brew can be given the attention it deserves We’re dedicated to great taste and providing flavour-packed beers for you to enjoy.
So, the ultimate question…
What does craft beer mean?
Craft beer means independence, it means passion, it means proper beer, done the right way. Beer that is made with care, that is full of flavour and has a unique taste.
