What do the Terms “Regular Beer” “Craft Beer” and “Microbrew” Mean?
We can’t define craft beer without first talking about regular beer, because the term is pretty vague. Most people who hear “regular beer” probably think about some common watery brews, like Coors or Millers. Some people might refine that further and say that regular beer is any cheap American beer—Busch, Budweiser, Narragansett, and so on—but every country has beer that is mass produced. Take Corona and Heineken, for example.
Regular Beer Regular beers are bottled in mass at large corporate (macro) breweries. The concern is getting beer out to the world as fast as possible, not on the quality. Macro-breweries are less likely to choose premium ingredients, substituting instead with substandard grains, hops, and malts.
So, let’s make this simple: regular beer is any beer that is pale and watery. Regular beer can be enjoyed in copious amounts, since the alcohol by volume (ABV) is low.
What Do the Terms “Craft Beer” and “Micro-brew” Mean? Micro-brewed beers and craft beers are often confused because they are sometimes used interchangeably, even when they have different definitions and features. Even if they have their similarities, they are also different. When comparing craft beer versus micro-brew beer, you would notice that the main difference is the type and volume of beer produced. They are usually confused with each other because a microbrewery can also be a craft brewery as long as it meets the standards. Here are the main differences.
The Volume of Beer Brewed Yearly. The first and most distinctive difference between craft and micro-brewed beers is how much beer is made yearly. Both types of breweries have a limit placed on the amount of beer they can make annually.
As for microbreweries, the number is set at 15,000 barrels annually with Craft breweries not allowed to make more than six barrels annually. If they do, they are no longer defined as a craft brewery. So, microbreweries sell a larger quantity, and craft breweries sell quality instead.
Ownership Percentage Another difference between these two breweries is who they can be owned by. A craft brewery, by definition, has to be owned for more than 75 percent by the company itself and less than 25 percent by other large brewery companies. This is important in ensuring that the company can focus on its art and quality rather than profit.
On the other hand, a micro-brewery can be owned by anyone who can buy shares of the company. There are no restrictions to the ownership, as the company aims to profit.
Types of Beer Made This isn’t to say that their beers are necessarily very different in terms of quality, only that the process, ingredients, and focus are not always the same between craft breweries and microbreweries. Craft beer is meant to be made traditionally, with innovative and traditional elements. There are no preservatives, and it is just unfiltered, fresh, artsy beer.
But in the case of micro-brew beers, they change based on seasons and special occasions; hence you get the specialty beer. Since they make a lot of beer annually, they don’t focus on the traditional way but leverage technology, automation, and machinery when making their beer.
Presence of Strict Rules One of the strict rules found in the case of craft beers is that they can’t change their brewing process except for a better flavor. If they do, then it’s not a craft brewery anymore. But, you don’t see the same strictness exerted on micro-breweries.
A craft brewery also has more attention on customer relationships and beer quality than making sales. If you see a craft brewery that doesn’t attempt to build positive customer relationships, then it’s out of its definition. This isn’t to say that micro-breweries don’t work towards building customer satisfaction, but whereas they keep the monetary transaction in mind, a craft brewery sells a more genuine experience.
Where the Beer Is Sold Another way microbreweries differ from craft breweries is in the case of where their products are sold. Craft breweries aren’t given any restrictions on where they can sell the beers. But with microbreweries, 25 percent of what they have must be sold in the brewery. This gives them the chance to open up their taps and testing rooms to customers, offering a fantastic experience.
These breweries can also be designed to be a pub or restaurants to stand out even better. Then, the other 75 percent can be distributed to different stores for sale.
What To Expect When Getting a Craft Beer? If you’ve had regular beer for a while and you finally want to drink a craft beer, there are a few things that you should look out for. Firstly, craft beers are made with natural malt, which means you have a robust texture, flavor, and dimension. They are also left unfiltered, with no added preservatives or chemicals. Some might even call them “real beers.”
Also, craft beers are served a bit warmer than typical types of beer, especially if you want to get the best out of them. The colder it is, the fewer aromatic compounds it has to offer. If you don’t know how warm it should be, know that the darker it is, the less chilled it should be.
What To Expect When Getting a Micro-brew Beer? Micro-brew beers can be ales or beers and are also unpasteurized and unfiltered like craft beers. They are made with unique hops and malts, so their aroma and flavor stand out. Asides from the fact that they make specialty beers, which all beer drinkers are most likely aware of, there’s nothing different you can expect from a micro-brew beer that you might not already know.
Other Types of Breweries Here are some examples of non-traditional breweries, which are increasingly popular today, as customers do not just expect beer to be refreshing — they crave for the full beer experience.
Nano Brewery If you’ve heard of craft beer versus micro-brew, then you’ve probably heard a nano brewery too. This brewery makes even less beer than the microbrewery size per year. But there is no specific number of barrels to classify a company as a nano brewery.
Macro Brewery Most industry-leading companies in the brewery world are classified as macro breweries. As you can guess based on the name, a macro brewery makes an enormous amount of beer. These companies can produce and distribute more than six million barrels per year, which is a huge step up for microbreweries. Their beer is mass-produced, so it’s cheaper than craft beers.
The Final Verdict So, what is the differences between craft beer, Micro beer, regular beer, etc? It all comes down to the quality of the ingredients and production method. Craft beer brewers focus on quality and uniqueness. All have their time and place, but we always recommend that you try a local brew. You never know what you are missing!
Craft Beer vs. Regular Beer: What’s The Difference?
Written by Dane Wilson|Last Updated:March 16, 2021.