Manchmal sieht ein Craft Beer nur aus wie ein Craft Beer, wird aber von einer Megabrauerei gebraut. Beispiele: Shocktop (Anheuser-Busch InBev), Blue Moon (MillerCoors) oder in der Schweiz: Ittinger (Heineken). Dem Thema hat sich auch das Time Magazin angenommen: „That Craft Beer You’re Drinking Isn’t Craft Beer. Do You Care?“
It’s that second characteristic (the brewer’s independence) that has become the most contentious issue among beer makers. Blue Moon and Shock Top are the two highest-profile examples of brews that are not made by independent companies—their parent companies are MillerCoors and Anheuser-Busch InBev, respectively—yet which market themselves as craft beers. The Brewers Association and others have come to categorize such brews as “crafty” beers because manufacturers and marketers seem to deliberately conceal their true corporate heritage.
Was ist für euch ein Craft Beer? Und hat das eine Relevanz bei eurer Bierwahl?