What is craft beer or how to define craft beer?
“It used to be simple. You say “beer” and they pour you a beer – that’s it, no interrogation! But what about now?”
– Labietis customer, tired of taste questions, Labietis beer workshop, 2018.
Over the past three years, new terms have appeared in the dictionary – craft beer, kraft. The Latvian version is amatalus (from craft and beer ). And as soon as this term appeared, people came to define it. “There is no such thing as craft beer – there are home brewers who grew up as small breweries!” – rushed the homebrewer, who has been enjoying flavoursome beers for the past 10 years. The rest of the nation, on the other hand , has only recently learned to pronounce an IPA or a phlegmy-sounding saison without a hitch , and then it started! “Craft beers are only made on a small experimental scale!” – said one. “Nonsense! Amatalus is in the variety of raw materials!” – argued the other. “You two don’t understand anything – it’s the story! If we go by the definition of the Colorado State Boulder City Brewers Association, which states that craft beer is beer brewed in a small, traditional and independent brewery.” Unfortunately, these rules were not elaborated further, as the next item on the agenda was the definition and tasting of stouts and porters.
Small, traditional and independent.
Small This point is clearly stated in the law. A small brewery produces less than 500 000 hectolitres of beer a year.
Independent. Most brewery owners must be brewers. Breweries cannot be owned by a person or trader who owns 10 per cent or more of another brewery.
Traditional. However, this point is unclear. Traditional for whom? Is a Czech-style lager brewed in Latvia more traditional than a beer with juniper berries or a Latgale home-brew? Fortunately, this point has changed over time with the addition of “traditional or innovative” (which probably covers the whole spectrum!). But these are the rules for small breweries and the definition of craft beer in Colorado. So what is realistic?
"Because I can!" - that's what I do.
Craft beer is not funny herbs, a shitty hops concoction or a witty label. Craft beer is not an accessory for fixies, longboards, beards or soy meatballs. Craft beer does not invite hatred of other drinks. It does not impose a certain lifestyle. Craft beer is an attitude! Brewing as a craft, not a chore. It is the approach of a brewer (the person who makes the beer) to his craft, and the approach is simple: “Because I can!”
“Why add lemon peel, lingonberries or some kind of moss to beer?” – “Because I can!” replied the brewer of an independent brewery without looking up from the kettle, stubbornly throwing a handful of lichen into the kettle.
You see, unlike industrial brewers, a craft brewer is independent. Independent of food technologists, brand managers, focus groups and market research data that says you should definitely brew light beer, dark beer, kvass and, for some reason, non-alcoholic beer. Craft The brewer has one salary for all of this. Even the customers don’t bother the brewer because he will make the beer he likes, and that’s the best approach!Imagine! Opportunity A. Aldaris brews 650 litres of beer that he himself thinks is great – with figs and beetroot. Put it on on tap – people are excitedly breaking chairs! Drink all the beer in one weekend. That’s pretty good – the brewer made money. Let’s keep brewing. Option B. Aldaris brews the same beer. Put it on tap – people loathe beer. Twitter explodes, Facebook comments onthe mother aldara and her relationship with various forest animals. As if it should be bad, it’s not –the brewer has 650 litres of beer, which he himself thinks is amazing.Let’s keep brewing! It’s impossible to lose! Only by being true to oneself can a brewer brew a good beer!
What exactly is craft beer?
Craft beer could be called the new current in brewing, a counter-movement to the large industrial breweries which, unlike mass producers, pay more attention to taste and raw materials. Under these conditions, craft beer is often made in smaller quantities to leave more room for experimentation and taste control. The following is open to interpretation. You might as well not call it that. In short, craft beer is beer, and beer is not something to talk about, it’s something to drink!
Order your favourite craft in our e-shop: https://staging.labietis.lv/en/shop/
