The illusive definition of what Craft is in relation to beer, and even the wider drinks industry, which in itself poses a difficult question in terms of what Craft is: for example, can Craft be extended to cider, or even whisky? Many gin distillers call themselves Craft these days, and who’s to say they shouldn’t?

The simplest definition of Craft beer is when it is made in small batches by equally small independent brewers, using caringly sourced ingredients, with love, passion and care. But when should such a defining word get surrendered by a successful company like Brewdog? Brewdog  certainly started by making Craft beer, but with their growth and share of the market will they assess whether to retain the name of Craft Brewers? Even Brains Brewery, if not the oldest, one of the largest and most loved of Wales’ breweries, have perhaps predictably dipped their toe into the Craft market with entries such as their Barry Island IPA, a decent tipple, a very good IPA in fact says me, but is it Craft? I have talked with plenty of people who will tell you their size and pedigree alone make them ineligible to wear the Craft badge. But with such a loose definition, and with many wavering opinions, can we discount them as such? 

Brewdog themselves have called for a firm definition of the term Craft, perhaps with a unilateral purpose to ensure they are firmly contained within that definition. Too cynical perhaps, but there is no doubt of their tremendous efforts in terms of making Britons drink better beer. And that, to me, is something to stir pride loving craft beer myself. Trying to define Craft is like keeping a handful of sand, it is perhaps best left to bar room discussions over the quality of one’s pint. To me, Craft isn’t a single definition, but a movement and mentality, pushed by the likes of SIBA and CAMRA back before Craft was a term, “to secure the long term future of real ale, real cider and real perry by increasing their quality, availability and popularity”. Real ale in that context being as hard to define as Craft is now, and the quest for a definition can perhaps be blamed on CAMRA’s recent image as old fashioned and ageing, an image they are focusing on correcting.

It is valiant to protect one’s own definition of Craft. To fight for the local brewer whose beers are full of heart and made with true purpose above mass production and financial gain, and it is easy to discount larger brewers who have perhaps fallen foul of those latter complaints.  Redefining them who started out as craft  as the enemy now, and to see their investment in better beers, like Brains’ craft adventures, as an attempt to never forget their roots but also ensure they can continue to ride the Craft wave. But in truth, one goal of Craft is to make better beer, and for me, and us at LOVEOURCRAFT, that’s where the definition stops: pure ingredients, better quality, thought provoking, and lovingly crafted.

Iechyd da! Garin @LoveOurCraft

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