We hear the terms independent or craft beers more and more often, and many large industrial brands have set out to conquer a growing portion of the market that we, as craft and independent brewers, have been conquering with a lot of hard work and dedication over the past few years. Thanks to this work, we have managed to convey to consumers the importance of working with top-quality ingredients and recipes that move between the traditional and the innovative to achieve new nuances and flavors.
Large breweries emulate characteristic elements of more traditional breweries in their new products, including elements such as the authenticity of the recipes, the figure of the master brewer, the aromas or the body, differentiating them from their more common offerings.
Therefore, at Cervezas Althaia, we have decided to discuss on our blog what craft or independent beers really are and how they differ from what are known as industrial beers. To begin, we propose a quick definition from the Brewers Association of the USA, one of the largest and oldest in the world: “A craft brewer must be small, independent, and traditional.”
Let's see what each point refers to:
Small
The annual production of craft brewers should not exceed 3% of the total annual market sales.
Independent
Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interests) by a member of the alcoholic beverage industry who is not themselves a craft brewery.
Traditional
A brewery where the majority of its beer production is derived from traditional and/or innovative brewing ingredients and their fermentation. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer.
Now that we have a clearer understanding of these concepts, let's look at other aspects that differentiate craft and independent beers from industrial ones:
? Craft beer tastes much better! The range of flavors, aromas, and nuances found in this type of beer is much greater than that present in mass-produced industrial beers. This is because craft brewers dedicate their time to ensuring the quality of the beer instead of focusing on marketing campaigns and cutting production costs. Craft brewers put all their effort into selecting top-quality ingredients in each batch. Large beer companies, on the other hand, tend to reduce the use of ingredients to increase their margins.
Health benefits: Craft beer offers direct health benefits, proven by various research, and greater than those attributed to red wine. This is due to the higher concentration of nutrients compared to wine or industrial beer; its fiber content, vitamin B, antioxidants, and silicon, an element that helps counteract osteoporosis.
? Much more variety: One of the things people like most is the wide variety offered by craft and independent beers compared to the monotonous ranges of industrial ones. Our production, limited by the size of the facilities, allows us to adapt production capacity to smaller batches and innovate by using new ingredients, different brewing methods (such as the use of nitro in our Cap Negret can), and collaborations with other breweries to create unique products.
? Much more economical: Although the unit price of a craft beer compared to its industrial counterparts is usually slightly higher due to production costs and ingredient selection, these are beers designed to be savored slowly to be appreciated with each sip. Therefore, if we compare the cost of consuming them at a gathering with friends versus the amount we would drink of an industrial beer, we will realize that the expense is considerably lower. Furthermore, caloric intake per volume is also reduced in this case.
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Do you like what you're drinking? Comment on it! Drinking craft beer is the ideal occasion to open our senses of sight, smell, and taste and share our impressions with our table companions. Whether friends or family, very interesting conversations arise where it is fun to contrast everyone's opinions during the tasting.
Meet the brewers. The craft world is very open, and on most occasions, breweries organize tastings and guided tours of their facilities where we can learn firsthand about the entire production process and discover more about this exciting world. Do you want to visit our Althaia factory? Every Saturday we organize tours by appointment, contact us if you want to know more.
? Pair it with your favorite dishes. Spain is a country with a rich culinary tradition, and we can further expand the options by adding craft beers to our menus. Did you know that Althaia beers are present in three Michelin-starred restaurants?
A beer for every person... and every season! The great variety of existing beers means there is at least one craft beer for every type of person; it's just a matter of finding yours. In addition, the differences in body, alcohol content, and aromas present mean we can taste different beers throughout the year. We hope that with all this information, you have a clearer understanding of what craft or independent beers are and how they differ from industrial ones. Which ones will you choose?