The Spanish Association of Independent Craft Brewers has created a seal to distinguish independent craft beer from macro-breweries and breweries in which they have a stake.
In order to use this seal, the more than 40 microbreweries that are currently part of the association must certify a series of characteristics that guarantee the quality and independence of the final product:
- that they comply with current regulations regarding the beer production process and its sale.
- that their annual production does not exceed 50,000 hectoliters.
- that they are not directly or indirectly owned by a large company in the sector.
- that they do not use ingredients other than malt as a starch source to cut production costs.
This seal, used by many of AECAI's associates, is very similar in objectives to the one recently created by the Brewers Association in the United States, with which some 800 American microbreweries aim to differentiate between craft beer and industrial beer or beer owned by macro-breweries.
Currently, large multinational companies, both in Spain and in many other countries, are trying to enter the craft sector by buying or absorbing microbreweries and even with their own production that does not comply with what microbrewers define as craft beer, although it is marketed as such.
"Consumers have the right to know what they are drinking and who is behind a beer that is sold as craft but, in our opinion, is not" — David Castro, president of AECAI.
Craft brewers work hard every day to produce quality craft beer, beer without chemicals, with 100% natural ingredients, which makes our beer a fresh, natural, and living beer. A beer with its own style.
Craft beer is innovation, a beer with character, a beer born of hobby, of passion... a beer with strength, with a clear philosophy built on a dream, in which we believe and make come true.