In This Article
Introduction to Craft Beer
Anyone younger than 30 years old probably takes craft beer for granted. They never had to drive long distances to certain bottle shops or scour the shelves for “somewhat fresh” imported bottles from Germany or Belgium. Nowadays, delicious beer from local breweries is available almost everywhere.
Compared to its European counterparts, the United States has a relatively unaccomplished history of brewing beer. Some of this is due to Prohibition in the 1920s, and some is the decades of macro dominance. There were decades where beer variety simply wasn’t available. Sure, there was some slight regionality, but lighter lagers were just about all that was available outside of imports. That is all in the past, as the craft brewing explosion has given us about 6,000 breweries operating in the United States, with plenty more in Canada and Mexico.
Beer drinkers have never had it so good. The variety of beer styles produced by breweries of every size is hard to wrap your head around. But “craft beer” means different things to different people,
How to Define Craft Beer
Defining what constitutes a “craft beer” is tricky to pin down. For one, it’s a very contentious subject between independent brewers and their fans and the larger macro companies that have acquired smaller breweries or started to mimic the products of smaller breweries. The Brewers Association quantifies the craft category as a producer with an annual output of less than 6 million barrels and a business model that includes 25% ownership or less by a non-craft brewer.
Fifteen years ago, it was pretty easy to determine what was craft by the beer style. If it was an IPA, it was probably from a craft brewery. Then, larger multinational corporations started acquiring breweries around the country. While plenty of the products brewed by these larger companies are worthwhile, many brewers and their devoted customers still fervently value the independence of a brewery. It’s understandable, but it’s up to each individual to decide which breweries they want to support.
Popular craft beer styles in America
American Pale Ale
For decades, the dependable APA was the standard bearer for the American craft brewing industry and the go-to for early adopters wanting something more flavorful than the fizzy lagers available everywhere. These beers are based on the original British style, but late hop additions provide citrusy and more floral flavors. The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is widely considered the GOAT of this style, and it’s as beloved today as it was decades ago when it was released. If you want something happy without a lot of booze (these beers usually have between 4% and 6% ABV), this is absolutely what you should be looking for on tap lists and the shelves.
American IPA
This boozier version of pale ale features more pronounced hop flavors and bitterness, which go hand-in-hand with a stronger ABV. IPAs and Double IPAs are generally a dark amber and clear with bright citrus playing off the bready malt backbone. These can land between 7% and 10% and command your attention a little more.
Hazy/New England IPA
No style of beer is as trendy as the hazy IPA. What started in the northeast as the New England IPA has gained prominence around the globe as beer nerds (or hop-heads) line up to buy 4-packs of hyped up brands. This style is produced by dry-hopping beers late in the boil while skipping out on some filtration or adding oats to gain that pillowy mouthfeel and opaque color. Many breweries will experiment with a single hop variety to showcase the subtle differences. There’s almost no bitterness, but the citrusy (or “juicy”) flavors pack quite a punch.
Barrel-Aged Stouts and Barleywines
By far, the most robust beer styles are imperial stouts and barleywine, which is why inventive craft breweries have been aging these boozy confections in spirits barrels. These used oak barrels impart complex flavors onto the beer, and this technique has opened up a whole world. Beers this rich can be challenging as the flavors are intense and the ABVs range from 10-15%, but serious beer nerds find the vanilla and cocoa tasting notes deeply rewarding. These are ideal for sharing or slow sipping, so they’re often released around the holidays.
Sour Ales and Fruited Beers
In the same way some brewers will chase intense hoppiness, others are trying to get their customers to pucker their lips with tart ales and kettle sours produced with fruit. These tend to be low ABV concoctions that are perfect for the summer months.
Wild Ales
Most brewers take a pilgrimage to Belgium at one point in their career, and all of them head home with dreams of replicating the wonders of Lambic or farmhouse ales. These are all produced with unique yeast strains or spontaneous fermentation that yield fascinating results. Craft breweries in America and across Europe are putting their best efforts into the style, and this is where you’ll find much of the innovation happening in beer today.
Session Beers and Low-ABV Craft Beers
Mindful drinking and wellness initiatives have given rise to breweries releasing low alcohol or even non-alcoholic brands. While these were traditionally bland lagers, IPAs and stouts are now produced with low ABV or without any alcohol content. And with Dry January becoming all the rage, it’s simply good business.
Craft Beer Is Now a Worldwide Phenomenon
What’s widely considered “craft beer” may be up for debate, but all agree this movement started in the United States when American drinkers became fed up with the woeful domestic beer options compared to the countries where they were traveling. Traditional breweries from Europe were the original inspiration for American craft. Similarly, these craft brands have inspired young breweries in Europe, Asia, and Australia.
They’ve taken cues from brands like Stone, 3 Floyds, Goose Island, and other outfits to put forth their interpretation of craft beer. This includes the branding and packaging of the beer they brew, and it’s easy to distinguish them from a newer brewery from its centuries-old neighbor down the street.
Global Craft Beer Breweries
- Mikkeller: This Copenhagen craft brand was among the first to make a name for itself by brewing imperial stouts and hoppy IPAs. Nowadays, the company has expanded to more than a dozen taproom and brewery locations across the globe. The OG Beer Geek Breakfast started it all, and it holds up after 20 years.
- Cloudwater Brewing: This UK brewery is aptly named as they specialize in hazy IPA and other trendy styles.
- Brouwerij ‘t IJ: This Amsterdam-based brewery has made its name for approachable beers for Dutch natives and the hordes of tourists who’ve grown tired of Heineken.
- Inkhorn Brewing: Tokyo’s craft beer scene is primarily inspired by brewer trips to Europe and North America, and this family-run operation is one of the top spots in the capital.
- Omnipollo: By far the hippest brewery in Sweden, Omnipollo specializes in all the “hype” styles you’re familiar with. But they’re not afraid to get whacky with it, so expect massive hop bombs, thick pastry stouts, or unbelievably tart fruit ales.
Why Craft Beer Keeps Evolving
Consumer demand for new and unique flavors is another major contributor to brewing trends, not to mention packaging and marketing considerations. But the #1 driver for innovation is brewer curiosity. These individuals tend to be passionate about both producing and consuming craft beer. Spending that amount of time in a brewery, you’d have to be!
Homebrewers Shaping Future Beer Styles
The fact is, almost every professional brewery started in a garage or kitchen. While smaller niche craft breweries have made the most significant contributions to innovation in brewing techniques and the creation of new styles, your neighborhood homebrewer is likely pushing the exact boundaries. One of the advantages a homebrewer has is fewer constraints on their time and tank space. There isn’t a brick-and-mortar brewery to keep open, so these intrepid non-professional (“amateur” isn’t quite the right word as these individuals can be remarkably knowledgeable) brewers can spend their entire time dreaming up and experimenting with recipes.
Conclusion
However you define craft beer, there is simply so much of it in every city and travel destination that you probably shouldn’t get too caught up in the semantics of it all. Plenty of information exists to help you decide which breweries match your values or simply brew the styles you want to drink. Supporting a small business is never bad, so that’s probably the best place to start!
