Brewers who use traditional methods in beer brewing are known as craft brewers. Due to the additional complexities of the process and the fact that a craft brewery’s production capacity is limited when compared to a large-scale producer, the beers they produce tend to be more expensive than mass-produced beers. Some people believe their beers have a better texture and flavor than others’. Craft brewers can be found working in a variety of settings all over the world.
The exact definition of a “craft brewer,” as well as the definition of “traditional” methods, varies depending on where one is. Some argue that craft brewers only use malted grains, hops, water, and yeast, while others argue that unmalted grains are used in many traditional beers that have been around for a century or more. Traditional beers may also contain additives such as sugars, which are intended to alter the beer’s flavor.
Craft beers aren’t always pasteurized, and some aren’t even filtered. As a result of the residue left over from the brewing process, they can have a cloudy appearance. These beers are also not allowed to be amended with gases that keep them stable in the keg or bottle. Craft beers, as a result of these characteristics, require special handling while in the hands of the brewer and after they leave the brewery in order to maintain their characteristics.
Craft brewers produce a wide range of beer styles, and they are frequently involved in the creation of seasonal or specialty beers. Some purists argue that true craft brewers work for small, independent breweries that are not owned or controlled by major beer and wine companies; however, some craft brewers may work as consultants for larger breweries that want to produce smaller artisan lines or improve their brewing process by reverting to more traditional methods.
Every step of the beer production process is overseen by the craft brewer. He or she selects the ingredients, determines how they should be handled, and monitors the fermentation process. After the beer has been successfully produced, it can be bottled and shipped in kegs. A craft brewer may be working on several different batches of beer at any given time, all of which require monitoring and attention, as well as test batches of new and specialty beers in development.