The debate of what is or isn't craft beer has been waning (I'm basically done with the whole thing), but there are still people around who haven't given up on their search for the ultimate definition.
Well, I think I have found it.
Mind you, it's a definition that has been stripped of all the marketing and PR generated dogmas of convenience. It's in this really good article about Lithuanian farmhouse brewer Ramūnas Čižas, who
"... uses no exact figures. The mash bread bakes for an hour, roughly, but he doesn't measure the time. He uses no thermometer, either. If he gets up in the morning and doesn't feel like brewing, he won't.And
"... also uses his fingers to judge the temperature, but uses different fingers for the different pauses, to get the temperature right. He says that knowledge of this technique used to be considered a great secret.The article also mentions the brewhouse of Ramūnas's grandfather, which is still in use and has some interesting features, but you'll have to read the article to find out more.
Anyway, my point is that Craft Beer, real, honest to God, proper Craft Beer is what this guy makes, all the rest are different scales of industrial production.
Na Zdraví!
That's about as good a definition as I've seen.
ReplyDeleteIf it tastes good it is good ....the end .
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly my philosphy...
DeleteMax, you may be tired of the debate, but it doesn't show any signs of abating over on this side of the earth. Especially when you get articles like this one.
ReplyDeleteThe Brewers Association have effectively spread their doublespeak throughout the country.
And that is why I couldn't care any less about the BA's definition, it's just marketing, a dogma of convenience that fits the needs of business interests.
Delete