Crafting a beer: what to look for when buying and how not to run into a fake

Whence crafting beer

The first small independent breweries appeared in Britain in the 1970s. They specialize in the preparation of traditional ales. And after 1978, when in some US states have legalized home brewing, this trend has become popular and there.

In Russia, the first independent brewery appeared in 2008, and more or less the mass distribution of Kraft started in 2012.

What can be considered a true crafting

Crafting a beer - it's beer that independent brewery brewed according to the original recipe. It is sold in bottles or poured in bars in special glasses.

Association of American brewers leads a fairly strict requirementsCraft brewer defined to the institution, which can cook a real kraft:

1. Brewery should produce no more than 6 million barrels per year (a 3% of annual beer sales volume in the US). One beer barrel is 117.3 liters, so that a brewery can not exceed the annual volume of 703.8 million liters.
2. Brewery should be independent. Less than 25% of its shares are owned by the owner. This is due to the fact that with a larger number of investors brewer deprived of the opportunity to create freely and introduce new flavors, not all of which can deliver tangible business benefits.
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3. Brewery should not only use the conventional components (hops, yeast, malt), but also to experiment with flavors. Small production volumes allow you to add new ingredients, without fear that the party will not do the consumer.

A clear definition of craft is only applicable to beer brewed in the United States. In Europe and Russia such strict framework is not, so the main feature can be creative self-realization of the brewer and the search for new and interesting flavors.

The main thing - the original recipes and the presence of some kind of concept. The big problem is that there is no definition of what is crafting a beer in Russia.

Denis Pavelchevsky owner bars and contract an independent brewery Northside Brew

Not everything is clear and Trappist beer that is brewed with more of the Middle Ages in monasteries in Europe. Some attribute it to crafting, while others believe that the formal features of this particular type of beer.

In the English-speaking brewing more common term crafty (kraftovaty). It is used to determine the beer, which formally meets the criteria of copyright, but does not meet the essential requirements. For example, when an interesting architectural taste begins to produce brewing giant.

Where the cook and how much beer crafting store

The Russian craft brewed or in small independent breweries, or in the factories, where you can order a small batch of beer in their recipe. Most of the realized through the bars and specialty shops for the sale of alcohol.

The price to the consumer ranges from 150 to 350 rubles per serving. The high cost is due to the small volumes of production and use of natural ingredients.

Most crafting Brewers - enthusiasts, a truly in love with his job. A variety of grades allows even those who believe that the beer does not like to find something to your taste.

the shelf life of beer crafting is always indicated on the package. Some varieties can be stored up to 25 years, gradually dozrevaya in the bottle as the wine. The average shelf life of beer crafting - from six months to 5 years. Of course, talking about the closed container.

5 abbreviations accompanying crafting beer

1. ABV (alcohol by volume) - beer fortress. To be precise, this abbreviation indicates what percentage of the volume is an alcoholic. You can see a detailed chart here. The strongest beer in the world is a Scottish Brewmeister Armageddon, ABV is 65%. And this drink is still considered to be a beer!
2. ABW (alcohol by weight) - slightly more rare variant showing beer castle, but in relation to its weight. To get ABV, ABW should be multiplied by 1.25.
3. IBU (international bitterness units) - beer bitterness component which depends on hops used in the cooking process. A table showing the intensity of the taste, you can see here. Record here belongs to the Canadian Flying Monkeys Alpha Fornication and is 2500 IBU. For comparison: in the bright camp (Pale Lager, Light Lager) 8-12 IBU, in the Indian light elements (IPA) - 60-80 IBU, a double IPA (Double / Imperial IPA) - 100 IBU.
4. SRM (standard reference method) - intensity colored beer.
5. OG / FG (original gravity / final gravity) - density of unfermented / fermented wort. The higher the performance, the richer and stronger drink.

How to recognize a fake

Production of crafting a beer - a new direction so that at the state level has not yet had the legislative framework. Today, manufacturers can call crafting any beer, a little more original than lagers and stouts.

Currently crafting a beer - are the products of small breweries. But to distinguish his appearance is very difficult, so the only way - to try and feel the difference.

Alexander Menfas, head brewer MANFAS Brewery

It's best to try in specialized bars. There will definitely advise that you have to taste, and are unlikely to be offered a bad beer. According to estimates of the Union of Russian BrewersMultinationals are connected to the kraft revolution in RussiaIn every major city has one to five bars and specialty stores that deal crafting beer.

No fake and genuine craft. Since there is no sensible definition of what it is, then it is impossible to forge. There is a good beer, and there are bad. How to have a good brewery, and there are bad.

Denis Pavelchevsky owner bars and contract an independent brewery Northside Brew

Determine the choice can help international service Untappd. In it put consumers assess breweries and in some beers.

What goes crafting beer

The main feature of the present craft - presence interesting taste, so dried fish or acute snacks to this beer will not do. For the same reason it is not recommended before you try Kraft, smoking or drinking coffee.

Different types of craft, as well as various wines, combined with a variety of products designed to set off the taste. To easy Pick up beer snacks to malt varieties - sweet to tart - spicy. If you get lost in the variety of flavors and options, you can take the versatile cheese or pizza, which are suitable for most crafting beer, except for very very severe grades.

In a good institution will always give you sensible advice, it is better to combine with one or another kind of beer.

You can still follow the recommendations of the American Brewers AssociationCraft beer & food guide. So, Pale Ale are advised to complement meat or pumpkin pie, burgers, English cheese (in Russian realities - cheddar). India Pale Ale is combined with spicy food with curry, sweet desserts: caramel apple pie or carrot gingerbread. Taste of Imperial or Double IPA requires heavy dishes like smoked bacon, lamb, grilled, fried chicken or a very sweet desserts like caramel cheesecake or creme brulee.