The Ultimate Guide to Craft Beer
Imagine that you are back from work and have had a long day. All you want to do now is relax and chill, so you pull out a bottle and get cozy on the sofa with good music. Sounds like the perfect way to relax, right?
But did you know the difference between ordinary and craft beer? To answer straight up, a regular beer is average while a craft beer is premium. So why sip average when you can sip something premium right? Every sip of craft beer features a unique story of passion, creativity, and flavor blended within itself. Whether you are completely new to this term or have mastered the knowledge of beers, this guide will tell you everything about craft beer.
From styles and brewing processes to lip-smacking taste profiles, let’s explore and understand why craft beer is more than your regular beer.
What is Craft Beer?
Unlike mass-produced beers, craft beer stands out for its small-scale production, innovative flavors, and commitment to independent ownership. Brewers Association, states that craft beer is defined by breweries that unequivocally prioritize quality and creativity over quantity.
Distinctive qualities of Craft beer:
Production in small batches: As craft beers focus mostly on quality over quantity aspect, the production is usually limited.
Creativity: Craft beers come in a variety of blends, with ingredients like fruit, spices, and herbs.
Independent ownership: Craft beer breweries are mostly independent, i.e. either they are family-owned or locally operated; this is what truly makes them stand out.
We at Catalyst Crafted Ales, proudly believe in pushing the boundaries of traditional brewing methods and enhancing what’s already enhanced with innovative and locally sourced brews.
Popular Styles of Craft Beer
Diversity is one of the finest aspects of Craft beer ranging from hoppy and malty to sour and tangy, something for every taste bud.
Some common styles of craft beer:
India Pale Ales(IPAs) are famous for their strong aroma and hop flavor, with crisp and bitter variations like West Coast IPA and juicy-hazy variations like New England IPA.
Stouts and Porters feature chocolate or coffee-like notes with similar rich and dark textures.
Sours, this variant is often brewed with added fruits that may increase its complexity.
Pilsners are those variants that are light-bodied with a crisp finish, making it an ideal drink to sip on warm days.
Discover our finest craft beers on tap and catalyst cans,
The Craft Brewing Process
Creating craft beer is an art in itself, brewing the ingredients with the right ingredients is a magical experience on its own. Each step of brewing is carefully carried out so that they can reflect the thoughts and visions behind it.
Some key steps of the brewing process:
Malting is the first and foremost process where barley is soaked, germinated, and then roasted to help develop flavors.
Mashing, this process involves mixing the malt with hot water in order to extract sugars.
The Boiling and Hopping process adds hops to create bitterness and add aroma to the beer.
Fermentation is the ultimate step where yeast is introduced that converts the sugar into alcohol.
Conditioning is the final step where the beer is aged to develop its final and full flavor profile.
As craft beer is all about quality, our brewery often experiments with a variety of ingredients that help create flavors that truly stand out.
To understand the brewing process more clearly here is an illustrated guide to brewing.
Also, read Why You Should Try In-House Brewing Today.
How to Taste Craft Beer Like a Pro
Well, you may or may not have tasted craft beer before, but are you doing it right? Tasting craft beer is one of the few tasks that may seem regular but what elevates the experience is the technique, let's explore a professional way.
Sight: Use your visual senses and observe the beer’s color, texture, and foam, this lets your mind prepare for the beautiful experience you are about to indulge in.
Smell: Close your eyes and let your nose do its thing, smell the beer gently, allowing the aroma to drift swiftly through your nose and reach your soul.
Sip: Now your body is ready and prepared for the magical drink, start slow, and let your tongue feel all the flavors.
Savor: Flavors often tend to leave an aftertaste, savoring it allows you to feel the aftertaste and evolving flavors.
To explore the genre more vividly take a look at The Ultimate Beer Tasting Guide: 10 Must-Know Tips.
Myths About Craft Beer
Every good thing comes together with a bunch of myths that affect the overall experience, so let’s debunk the most prominent ones.
Myth number 1: Craft Beer is Always Expensive
Craft beers are made with quality in mind due to which there are some premium options, but not always, many craft beers are affordable and offer excellent value for your hard-earned money.
Myth number 2: All Craft Beers Are Hoppy
Not true at all! Craft beers often come in a variety of options ranging from mild and malty to sour and fruity.
Myth number 3: Craft Beer is Only for Beer Snobs
Craft Beer can be enjoyed by everyone, maybe the reason this myth is around is because someone is jealous and doesn’t want you to experience the magic that craft beer holds.
Supporting Local Craft Breweries
When you go out and purchase from local breweries it not just supports them financially but also motivates them to do what they are doing. It also boosts community growth. Independent craft breweries like our Catalyst Crafted Ales have a major role in boosting the local economy as well, let’s understand more clearly.
Why Support Local Breweries?
Economic Impact: When you choose to buy from a local brewery it helps them create jobs and employ local people, boosting the economy.
Cultural Contribution: Local breweries carry their traditional methods and techniques that reflect their unique flavor through the pages of time.
Environmental Sustainability: Breweries are prioritizing eco-friendly brewing methods that are helping maintain sustainability.
Craft Beers Trends to Watch
The world is running fast, with every ticking second things change at an exponential rate, some recent trends that are shaping the future are:
Low-ABV and Alcohol-Free Beers: The ratio of people who want to experience beer without the buzz is rapidly increasing, and to let everyone feel the magic, breweries are often coming up with low-ABV and Alcohol-free options.
Sustainable Practices: Reducing waste and conserving water are important and people are taking up the concern more seriously and shifting to sustainable choices.
Exotic Ingredients: As craft beer involves experimenting with ingredients, the demand for including exotic tropical fruits is increasing resulting in innovation reaching an all-time high.
Craft beer is more than just a premium beer, it's a magical journey that carries flavors peeking from pages of time and reflects creativity. At Catalyst Crafted Ales, we believe in serving premium quality craft beers that are worthy of your every single penny. Whether you are a fan of timeless classics or prefer a pinch of modernity, we have it all.
Check out our finest craft beers on tap and catalyst cans now!
Follow us to keep an eye on our latest products and stay in the loop.
Facebook | Instagram | Mail us | Location&Timing.