Simply put, a craft beer is one that was not made by a huge, multi-national corporation known as a “mega-brewery.” If someone says “craft beer,” they usually mean something like this. However, it’s not the most correct way to define anything, so let’s elaborate.
The word “craft beer” is sometimes misused to mean any beer made by a microbrewery or an independent brewery with a low annual production volume, while it properly refers to beers made by these types of establishments.
However, there is no clear definition of what constitutes a small-scale activity, hence it might be difficult to agree on how to define “small output.” The community of beer makers is now divided on the issue. Craft beers, as the term is commonly used, are those brewed by small, family-run businesses rather than by multinational conglomerates. A brewery that places a premium on “craftsmanship” produces this beer.
When a huge corporation buys out a craft beer producer, the question arises of whether or not the beer can still be classified as “craft.” In many circumstances, the beer ceases to be a ‘craft’ product because of its industrial production methods.
This doesn’t always mean that the beer is of poor quality; rather, it indicates that it is mass-produced by an industrial brewery rather than a small-batch brewhouse. However, many macrobreweries continue to market their products under the “craft beer” umbrella.
The Impact Of Craft Beers On Drinking
Many individuals, if asked, could describe beer as a dull beverage served in dingy pubs because of its low price and lack of flavour. However, this view does a disservice to our present and our past if accepted. In all its iterations, Beer has served as a social glue for humans for as long as it has been brewed. Here’s where CBs are making their impact, rebranding beer as something for any occasion rather than just barbeques and games.
Everyone over the age of 21 is welcome at any time of day or night at any local brewery or taproom. Everyone from the youngest to the oldest may join to celebrate the genius and ingenuity of CBs. As more and more people are drawn to craft brewers, taprooms have become the new social centres of their respective communities.
What About The Beer?
Great beer is the foundation, as you correctly surmise; there’s no arguing with that. If traditional homebrewers hadn’t yearned for bolder, deeper flavours, we wouldn’t have CBs today.
It would appear that CBs will continue to shine brightly into the foreseeable future. Instead, it is anticipated that India Pale Ales (IPAs), often considered to be the “kings of craft,” will continue to develop in the future. Even though fans will always enjoy dry, brut-style tastes, new fruit-forward IPA flavours will certainly be developed to satisfy the increased demand for softer, juicier IPAs.
Thinking Ahead
As CBs continue to entice both regular beer drinkers and those who normally wouldn’t choose beer, the popularity of sour beers might also increase. You might be surprised by the acidic flavour, but it pairs beautifully with sweet fruits like raspberries and blackberries.
Lagers, which are often more difficult to create than ales, offer reassurance to consumers who are just beginning to dabble with CBs because of their more traditional flavour profile. They’ll be staples in the CB industry for years to come, easing the way for consumers to switch from mainstream lagers and ales to the drier, fruitier, and generally more delicious craft beers.
Where Does A Craft Brewery Rank In Comparison To A Microbrewery?
There are certain similarities when talking about craft beer and micro-brewed beer, but there are also some important distinctions to be made. It’s easy to get the two names mixed up, so we’ll clarify things for you here for the sake of your craft beer appreciation.
What Is A Microbrewery?
If a brewery produces less than 15,000 barrels of beer per year, it is considered a microbrewery, and at least 75% of its output must be sold to customers outside of the brewery.
The law requires that at least 75% of a microbrewery’s output be sold at off-site venues, but it doesn’t stop some of them from selling beer directly to customers in tiny tasting rooms or bars.
When You Say “Craft Brewery,” What Do You Mean?
The definition of a craft brewery is a brewery that produces less than two million gallons of beer annually and is privately owned. In contrast to a microbrewery, a craft brewery has regulations that limit the methods they use to make beer. Traditional malt, as opposed to adjuncts like oats, barley, and wheat, must make up at least 50% of a craft brewery’s beverage.
The “craft” in “craft beer” refers to the fact that, in contrast to their large-scale corporate counterparts, these brewers treat beer manufacturing more like an art form. Craft breweries are often family-owned and operated establishments that value personal relationships with their clientele. They are less concerned with making money and more concerned with fulfilling their mission to enhance flavour and scent using both innovative and traditional components.
Those who work in the craft beer sector place a premium on quality in all aspects of production. That’s why you won’t find many mass-produced, industrial beers on American shelves, but rather handcrafted brews prepared in small amounts using only the highest quality ingredients.
What Sets Craft Beer Apart From Microbreweries?
The volume of beer brewed is the only distinguishing feature between a craft brewery and a microbrewery. Even though many smaller breweries make craft beer, not all of them fit the criteria for inclusion in the category.
However, a microbrewery is defined only by its annual output of beer, whereas a craft brewery is defined by the beverage, the people, and the purpose of the brewery itself.
The easiest way to understand the difference between a microbrewery and a macrobrewery is to consider the difference between the two names. But craft beer is a thing, not a quantity. There is a common misperception among beer lovers that a microbrewery’s use of craft ingredients is automatically indicative of the brewery’s size.
To sum up, not every craft brewery is a microbrewery, and not every microbrewery is a craft brewery.
What To Expect When Ordering A Craft Beer?
- Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and frequently chemical-free, craft beers are a hallmark of the industry.
- Craft brewers use real malts to improve the beer’s flavour, body, and complexity.
- Traditional brewing methods are combined with testing new beer varieties and adding unusual tastes to create craft beer.
- Because aromatic chemicals are generated slower at lower temperatures, craft beers are often served at a warmer temperature than ordinary beers.
- Craft beers with a deeper colour profile benefit from serving at a warmer temperature.
What Makes A Good Craft Beer Label?
The beverage industry of today is very picture oriented. Beer is primarily an olfactory and gustatory product, but it uses its sole entirely visual component—the label—to draw in customers and give them a sneak peek at the beer’s flavour. Branding allows you to convey your company’s values and ideals to consumers, and it’s often the determining factor in whether or not they choose your product over the competition.
Creating a memorable label requires a unique mix of artistic skill and state-of-the-art machinery. What makes for a good label, and how can brewers take advantage of the booming craft beer industry?
Your Identity
This attention to detail is a big selling point for artisan beers. When a customer tries it for the first time, they feel like they’ve stumbled onto a secret because to the product’s aura of exclusive luxury. It’s not easy to maintain a unique character while meeting the needs of the current market for consistent, high-volume labelling and packaging.
Whether you’re making a hoppy IPA or a dark stout, having a clear sense of who you are as a brewer may make all the difference. Your beer will stand out from the crowd in a crowded market thanks to the graphics and typography that you create with this identity.
Producing short, limited-run lines is one strategy to maintain the beer’s aura of exclusivity while the brand expands. Instantly found that 63 percent of people would buy a limited edition product to sample a new flavour and 42 per cent would buy based on “unique or cool” packaging. You and your printing partner can determine whether digital printing or a full HD flexo print run is more cost-effective given the duration of the run.
Products To Be Labeled
Everything about your label, from the look of the colours to how you should apply it, depends on the substrate you print it on. Have you thought of using a smooth film instead of a paper label? Is your brand’s identity dependent on eye-popping hues, or are you going for a more eco-friendly, understated design?
The materials you select will serve as the basis upon which the rest of your project will be constructed. If the groundwork is incorrect, completing the rest of the design will be considerably harder, and the result will fall short of expectations.
Sustainability
Sustainability isn’t simply a passing fad; it’s here to stay. Labeling that indicates it was produced sustainably is being expected by shoppers. According to consumer research conducted by McKinsey, 72% of people have shown moderate to high levels of worry about the amount of trash produced as a result of product packaging. The good news is that businesses embrace sustainability at every supply chain stage.
As a result, you may make a green label without lowering standards in any way. It may even serve as a unique selling point to entice environmentally conscious shoppers.
Consider using a recycled label made from fruit pulp or bagasse to show that your company cares about the environment (a byproduct of the sugar cane crop). Bagasse can be embossed or UV printed for more flexible printing options. Fruit pulp labels, however, may appeal to some companies because of their more organic appearance.
Tag How You’re Feeling
In the market that has emerged in the wake of the epidemic, where people have forgotten how to live without touching everything, the tactile sensation of your product may be an effective advertising strategy.
Selecting a printing partner that provides options for different face stocks and tactile labelling will allow you to expand the scope of your branding services. Tactile labels provide a product an instant air of sophistication and elevate the brand’s visibility in the market.
A tactile varnish is sprayed selectively to different parts of the label to generate a wide range of different textures, which may be utilised to bring out particular elements of the label, such as writing, or to create a more natural, earthy vibe. The use of a variety of stocks and tactile varnishes, in addition to intricate foiling or embossing, may produce a striking visual effect.
It’s also useful, from a practical one. Tactile, rough-touch varnishes can be used to make packaging more practical by enhancing the consumer’s ability to hold on to the can or bottle despite the sweaty conditions. There are also a variety of soft-touch laminates and varnishes that may be used to get a similar luxurious sensation.
Individuality According To Skin Color
In order to get a customer to pick up your beer, it needs to first capture their sight.
The colour of your label will be one of the first things a customer notices, so choose wisely. Customers will be able to tell at a glance what kind of beer is contained within the bottle by using colour, which has its own set of meanings. For instance, a golden hue could be appropriate if you’re drinking an amber beer. A label that’s mostly black or dark brown may work well for a stout.
This is not an ironclad guideline that must be adhered to; you are free to come up with different concepts depending on your brand’s identity.
If your brand relies heavily on a certain colour tone, you should give careful consideration to the substrate you’ll be printing on when choosing colours. For instance, the colour of your brewery’s signature red may seem somewhat different when printed on a transparent label than on a paper label for a bottle.
Make sure your whole product line looks how you want it to by choosing a printing partner with competence in colour management across a variety of substrates. When you’ve worked hard to establish a unique visual style for your brand, having a single product that doesn’t match that style is like shooting yourself in the foot.
Label Shape And Size
Another important technique to show off your individuality is by the dimensions of your label. If the printing company they work with offers custom die-cutting, edgier businesses may choose from a wide variety of sizes and forms that are uniquely theirs. Think about what will best represent your brand and how it will translate to the container you’ll be utilising.
The Value Of Printing
You may spend countless hours creating the most elaborate, jaw-droppingly gorgeous label the world has ever seen, but it would be for naught if you didn’t take it to a reliable print partner. Pick a printer that will put in the time and effort to fully “understand” your brand and objectives and has the resources to carry them out.
