Step Three: Profit! Thoughts on Craft and Independence in Beer

Over the last few years, the widely-accepted definition of what constitutes “craft beer” has changed dramatically. Part of this is because the Brewers Association (BA), a trade association that uses the term “craft brewer,” altered its definition. First, the BA increased the number of barrels a brewery can produce annually and still be considered “craft,” which allowed the Boston Beer Company, maker of Sam Adams, to maintain its trade association membership. Second, the BA allowed historic American-owned and -operated breweries like Yuengling & Son and August Schell to join, even though the flagship beers of those companies are brewed with adjunct ingredients such as corn.

Another factor is the acquisition of former BA member breweries by multinational brewing conglomerates. Macro-brewer ABI/InBev now owns Goose Island, Blue Point, and Devils Backbone, among other former BA member breweries. MillerCoors has Saint Archer, Revolver, and others. Constellation has Ballast Point. Heineken h