What is the definition of craft beer, and what exactly is a craft brewery?
„Are those the craft beers?“
The simplest definition of craft beer is that it is a beer produced by a small, independent/craft
brewery that in its production uses quality and natural ingredients, and approaches the creation of the beer in an inventive and creative way.
In order for a craft beer to be a craft beer, it must also be produced by a craft brewery.
However, in today’s Croatia is not very well regulated what craft beer actually is (more precisely, it is not regulated at all).
For that reason, we can sometimes come across some beers produced by big corporations that present their beer as craft beer.
Such claims can by no means be true because their beer does not come from small independent/craft breweries.
Most of such attempts were just unsuccessful experiments that lasted a short time, although some can still be found on
the market.
But what is a craft brewery?
The terms „craft beer“ and „craft brewery“ originate from America, where it is also clearly defined what craft brewery is or isn’t,
and those definitions are:
1. A craft brewery is a small brewery that can produce a maximum of 6 million barrels
of beer per year.
2. A craft brewery is also an independent brewery, which means that less than 25% of it can be owned by some other,
non-craft-related company.
3. A craft brewery is qualified and authorized to produce beer.
So, from this American definition, it is clear that a craft brewery is completely independent and that it is not subordinate to large corporations.
The craft brewery works for itself and its own good.
Once we have a craft brewery, we will necessarily have a craft beer.
That means that no beer other than craft beer can come out of a craft brewery, regardless of whether we are talking about IPA, Lager, Pale ale, Sour, Tripel, Stout, Porter, or some other beer.
In Croatia, the definition of a craft brewery is still not precisely defined.
That is why we have a group of small, independent brewers which operates under the Croatian Chamber of commerce.
The main characteristics of craft beer
Finally, let’s clarify and repeat once more the definitions of craft brewery:
• Craft beer is a beer produced by a craft brewery that has nothing to do with big corporations.
• The Craft brewery is independent.
• It has a limited annual production capacity.
• It produces its beer strictly and only from natural ingredients.
• It produces its beer in an innovative way.
• Craft brewery produces a traditional beer with a kick of modern brewing and develops new beer styles.
• This kind of brewery is involved in its community through sponsorships, donations, volunteering, cooperation, and collaborations with other craft breweries.
• Craft breweries have a characteristic, individual, creative and direct contact with their customers.
What do we consider craft brewery and craft beer to be?
• Before everything else, for us, craft beer is a beer produced from natural ingredients, without additional aromas and flavors. Unfortunately, more and more craft breweries around the world use additional aromas and flavors, like chocolate and fruity aromas, aromas of vanilla, and other flavors of various spices that come from the labs, not from the field. For us, that is not craft.
• For us, transparency is one of the key characteristics of the craft. That means: being honest towards the customer.
• Independence!
• Innovation and creativity!
• Involvement in the community.
In the end, we conclude that craft is both a way of thinking and a way of living. Cheers!
