[6] Although the term "microbrewery" was originally used in relation to the size of breweries, it gradually came to reflect an alternative attitude and approach to brewing flexibility, adaptability, experimentation and customer service.
The term and trend spread from the UK to the US in the 1980s,[8] and was eventually used as a designation for breweries that produce fewer than 15,000 U.S. beer barrels (1,800,000 liters; 460,000 U.S. gallons) annually.
[11] The website The Food Section defines a "nanobrewery" as, "a scaled-down microbrewery, often run by a solo entrepreneur, that produces beer in small batches.
[13] With lower startup costs than a craft brewery, nanobreweries have become popular among home brewers looking to expand and practice their beer brewing skills.
The definition is not entirely consistent but typically applies to relatively small, independently owned commercial breweries that employ traditional brewing methods and emphasize flavor and quality.
[6] A United States trade group, the Brewers Association, interested in brand transparency, offers a definition of craft breweries as "small, independent and traditional".
[23] This followed the passage of Assembly Bill 3610 in 1982, authored by Assemblyman Tom Bates, which allowed brewers to sell directly to consumers if food was served.
[25] Craft beer has adopted a marketing strategy that differs from those of the large, mass-market breweries, offering products that compete on the basis of quality and diversity instead of low price and advertising.
[32] In 1962, a brewing company in Pittsburg introduced the first self-opening can, which later became a pull ring tab, eliminating the need for a separate opening device.
However, since drinking directly from a can may still result in a metallic taste, most craft brewers recommend pouring beer into a glass prior to consumption.
Other breweries began following Goose Island's lead, typically aging rich imperial stouts such as Founders KBS and The Bruery's Black Tuesday.
The Great Leap Brewing Company is one example of numerous microbreweries that have been recently established, with a localization strategy leading to the use of traditional Chinese ingredients and spices in the Beijing brand's beer production process.
China's largest brewpub is located in Suzhou and is managed by the Taiwanese brewing company Le Ble D'or (金色三麥), while craft beer consumers are both ex-pats and native Chinese.
[47] Following the introduction of American microbrews in 2012, the popularity of craft beer bars in Thailand—primarily Bangkok—increased fairly rapidly and in January 2014, the fourth global location of Danish microbrewery Mikkeller was launched in Bangkok.
The brand partnered with an already established beer distribution company and seeks to capitalize on the higher earning capacity of Thai people in the second decade of the 21st century, as well as tourists.
[51] With a beer culture that emerged during French colonisation and further influenced by Vietnamese students returning from overseas studies,[52] as of 2018[update], there were 31 microbreweries in Vietnam.
[56] France may be more commonly associated with wine, but its craft beer scene is also popular, ranging from classic farmhouse ales to experimental styles infused with local ingredients like lavender or foie gras.
Many draw inspiration from traditional European styles like Belgian saisons and German pilsners, while others experiment with unique ingredients like chestnuts or wildflowers.
[64] In Spain in 2011, the newspaper El País reported a "revolution is occurring in craft beer" (cervezas artesanales)[65] and more recently that by 2013 the trend had extended to the autonomous communities of Catalonia, Valencia, Basque Country, Navarre and Madrid.
[67] The term "microbrewery" originated in the UK in the late 1970s to describe the new generation of small breweries that focused on producing traditional cask ale independently of major brewers or pub chains.
The Ministry of Ales, Burnley;[75] The Masons Arms in Headington, Oxford;[76] The Brunswick Inn, Derby (in 2010, half of the beers sold by the establishment were brewed on-site);[77] The Watermill pub, Ings Cumbria;[78] and the Old Cannon Brewery, Bury St Edmunds[79] are some examples of small independent brewpubs in the UK.
Ten brewpubs, such as Zerodegrees, The Tobacco Factory, Copper Jacks Crafthouse and The Urban Standard, were identified as thriving Bristol craft beer establishments.
[88] The first microbrewery was the short-lived Horseshoe Bay Brewery, which was opened in 1981 by Frank Appleton and John Mitchell next to the Troller Pub in North Vancouver.
Several of the more successful microbreweries have been bought by MolsonCoors, AB InBev, and Sapporo, including Granville Island (Vancouver),[90] Mill Street (Toronto),[91] and Creemore Springs (Creemore, Ontario);[92] although the new owners often claim that these operations are still craft breweries, their membership in the relevant provincial craft brewers' association is immediately terminated due to rules requiring independent ownership.
In the US, the craft beer movement was revived in 1965—subsequent to an earlier American era—when Fritz Maytag acquired the Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco, thereby saving it from closure.
[102] Following the federal US government shutdown on October 1, 2013, craft beer producers were forced into an activity lull due to the closure of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), an arm of the Treasury Department.
[116] In recent years, Colombia has seen a significant boom in the production and consumption of craft beer, with cities such as Medellín standing out as epicenters of this trend.
The growth of small breweries has been driven by consumers' desire to experience more authentic and higher quality flavors, moving away from traditional industrial options.
Inspired by Colombian culture and folklore, FESTA distinguishes itself by offering an authentic and unique experience, brewing beers that seek to reflect the essence of the country.
Despite being a relatively new brewery, FESTA has managed to capture the attention of fans thanks to its commitment to quality and innovation, positioning itself as a benchmark within the city's growing beer scene.