What makes a craft brewery a craft brewery?

http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive ... ery/57211/

This article touches on a few topics over the past few weeks.

Here is the official Brewer's Association definition of Craft Brewer.

http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/2010/05/when-is-a-craft-brewery-just-a-brewery/57211/

This article touches on a few topics over the past few weeks.

I should have read this first. The Atlantic cut/pasted from my source...

People can bicker about issues of semantics all day. At the end of the day, it's not a matter of definition, but a matter of where people spend their money.

It doesn't matter if we call AC Golden a craft beer. It matters if people are justifying purchases of AC by saying, "I'm supporting a craft brewery." I have no problem purchasing and consuming a Sam Adams product. I do realize, though, that SA is the largest American owned brewery (correct me if I am wrong). I'm not buying the beer because it is or is not craft. I'm buying it because I happen to like one or two SA offerings. But, in buying it, I know something about the source of the beer. And I'm plenty okay with supporting that source (the same could not be said for Miller's ownership of AC Golden).

I'd be interested in who first coined the term "craft." Seems, based on what I have read, that it was created within the craft movement and has since been appropriated by the mega-brewers. Basic, if you can't beat them, join them strategy. Strategy really works when you can get a consumer to buy an AC Golden being touted as "craft." Consumers need to do their homework, not just rely on the appearance of a certain name on the packaging.

To conclude, the debate over what is or is not craft seems like a misplaced debate that should really have to do with the vulnerability of consumers to fall for misleading advertising. But, hey, that's nothing new.

Side story: I was at a local bar awhile back and passed on ordering a "Drifter Ale" because I knew nothing of its identity. Sure sounded like a non-major label, but I was going to hate myself if I later found out it was brewed by Miller or the like. Came home, did some HW, and now I've got the facts. It's from the Widmer Brothers out of Portland, which consolidate with Redhook in 2007, with AB having a minority stake in both companies. Glad I went with the Sierra Nevada, which, unless I'm mistaken, is still independent. Point here is obvious. Being a responsible consumer is hard work!

Craft breweries are operated by witches and wizards.

Did you just call NABC, Harry Potter?

I'd be interested in who first coined the term "craft." Seems, based on what I have read, that it was created within the craft movement and has since been appropriated by the mega-brewers.

The term and definition of craft brewery came about as an off-shoot of the original term microbrewery. A Microbrewery was one that brewed less than 15,000 beer barrels per year, in some states the quantity was as low as 10,000 bbl.s. A non-quantity definition was required to embody the heart and soul of my industry. A brewery could be huge, now 2 million barrels or less, but adhere to all of the basic tenets of a hand crafted beer.


From BA:
An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional.

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.

Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.

The following are some concepts related to craft beer and craft brewers:

* Craft brewers are small brewers.

* Small brewers are defined as those who qualify for the Tax and Trade Bureau's small brewers excise tax differential by producing less than 2 million barrels annually.
* The hallmark of craft beer and craft brewers is innovation. Craft brewers interpret historic styles with unique twists and develop new styles that have no precedent.
* Craft beer is generally made with traditional ingredients like malted barley; interesting and sometimes non-traditional ingredients are often added for distinctiveness.
* Craft Brewers tend to be very involved in their communities through philanthropy, product donations, volunteerism, and sponsorship of events.
* Craft Brewers have distinctive, individualistic approaches to connecting with their customers.
* Craft Brewers maintain integrity by what they brew and their general independence, free from a substantial interest by a non-craft brewer.
* The majority of Americans live within ten miles of a craft brewer.

Can the mega-swill breweries create a very nice beer? Sure they could. Is it a Craft Beer as defined by THE Brewers Association, a body assembled and maintained by my peers? No it is not.

Water, Barley and Hops.

[Robin Garr]

Water, Barley and Hops.

Reinheitzgebot! Well, add yeast ...

Water, Barley and Hops.

Reinheitzgebot! Well, add yeast ...

Sh**...almost forgot the yeast. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat.

Water, Barley and Hops.

Reinheitzgebot! Well, add yeast ...

Not originally. They didnt know about the yeast at that time.

The reinheitsgebot may have been the worst thing that ever happened to german beer.

Belgian beer confuses them.

Craft breweries are operated by witches and wizards.

While I may have taken part in a Pagan celebration or two, I don't recall any witchcraft.

Water, Barley and Hops.

Reinheitzgebot! Well, add yeast ...

Not originally. They didnt know about the yeast at that time.

The reinheitsgebot may have been the worst thing that ever happened to german beer.

The Reinheitsgebot was originally as much a pricing/taxation document as it was about "purity". The inclusion of barley was solely to ensure Bakers had enough Rye and Wheat.

The English translation:

Following is an English translation of the Reinheitsgebot (German Purity Law) adopted in 1516, the oldest provision still enforced to protect the consumer. This is taken from the article "History of German Brewing" by Karl J. Eden, published in 'zymurgy' magazine, Vol. 16, No. 4 Special 1993. "We hereby proclaim and decree, by Authority of our Province, that henceforth in the Duchy of Bavaria, in the country as well as in the cities and marketplaces, the following rules apply to the sale of beer:

"From Michaelmas to Georgi, the price for one Mass [Bavarian Liter 1,069] or one Kopf [bowl-shaped container for fluids, not quite one Mass], is not to exceed one Pfennig Munich value, and

"From Georgi to Michaelmas, the Mass shall not be sold for more than two Pfennig of the same value, the Kopf not more than three Heller [Heller usually one-half Pfennig].

"If this not be adhered to, the punishment stated below shall be administered.

"Should any person brew, or otherwise have, other beer than March beer, it is not to be sold any higher than one Pfennig per Mass.

"Furthermore, we wish to emphasize that in future in all cities, markets and in the country, the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be Barley, Hops and Water. Whosoever knowingly disregards or transgresses upon this ordinance, shall be punished by the Court authorities' confiscating such barrels of beer, without fail.

"Should, however, an innkeeper in the country, city or markets buy two or three pails of beer (containing 60 Mass) and sell it again to the common peasantry, he alone shall be permitted to charge one Heller more for the Mass of the Kopf, than mentioned above. Furthermore, should there arise a scarcity and subsequent price increase of the barley (also considering that the times of harvest differ, due to location), WE, the Bavarian Duchy, shall have the right to order curtailments for the good of all concerned."