What Is Craft Beer?
Craft Beer is becoming a major part of cultures worldwide. Its exceptional taste, high quality ingredients, lower price and impact on communities make it a popular drink to enjoy at home or out in bars and restaurants.
There is a debate currently taking place in America about the definition of ‘craft beer’ and whether or not it should be separated from’macro breweries’ that produce their beer by large corporations. However, most brewing connoisseurs consider that ‘craft beer’ is a term used to describe breweries that are independent, small, traditional and use high quality, fresh ingredients for their beers.
The American craft beer movement started in the early 1900s, when a number of breweries began to fall by the wayside due to Prohibition. These breweries brought European brewing traditions to the United States, and it didn’t take long for them to become a part of American culture.
But as the century went on, industrialization and the rise of big breweries consolidated many of these small breweries into a few large brewing conglomerates, and the variety of beers that Americans could buy dwindled. Light lagers began to take over as the most common style, and that’s what most people know today when they see the word ‘craft beer’.
But craft brewers didn’t stop there; a group of intrepid home brewers began to revive styles that were no longer widely available. As the movement grew, it spawned a series of newer styles and flavors that have captivated both drinkers and breweries. Some of these newer beers are inspired by the past, while others take a more creative approach.