Behind the trend: Craft beer
This month, we chart the rise of craft beer, from its origins in the States to the global phenomenon that has taken the UK by storm in recent years.
In the beginning
Beer has been brewed for centuries, but the modern craft beer movement has its roots in 1970s America, when home-brewing was decriminalised and flavour explorers recreated Belgian, British and German beers in innovative ways.
Then
In the Nineties, these bold and beautiful US-style beers began to inspire UK brewers like Dark Star. Craft beer became mainstream when the likes of BrewDog Punk IPA – the textbook modern craft brew – was stocked in supermarket.
Now
The global brewing giants have started buying up smaller craft brands, like Camden and Meantime, signalling a huge worldwide shift in the consumption of beer.
Try it yourself
Steve Taylor, from The Bottle Shop, says: ‘When picking a craft brew, freshness is a key factor as some of the more fun flavours are fragile and taste best within 8-10 weeks of being brewed. We recommend visiting your local independent beer bar or shop and asking your beermonger to help you pick a selection.’
Further reading...
Guide to craft beer
How to match beer with food
From March 2017
