Is craft beer really better? The answer is yes, yes, and yes. Here's why.

While the microbrewery boom may seem relatively new, commercial beer is the real rookie in the room. For centuries, people brewed small batches of beer using natural ingredients that were locally available to them. And, it turns out, brewing beer with this smaller-scale traditional method rather than in massive commercial warehouses using cheap, low-quality ingredients, is way better for us, in every single way.

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Here are just a few reasons why craft beer wins:

1. Craft beer is better for your health – Compared to commercial beer, craft beer has way more phenolic compounds, which are responsible for tannins, flavonoids, and basically everything that makes it taste great. Phenolic compounds have natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and antimicrobial properties. They can also help boost your immune system, protect your brain, and support a balanced, happy digestive system. Porters, like Falling Sky’s Puddles - Roasted Chocolate Porter, have the highest antioxidant count, and hoppy ales, like Falling Sky’s Yell-OOO IPA, help mitigate the negative impact of alcohol on your liver. So, am I saying that craft beer is basically a green smoothie? No. But… kind of.

2. Microbreweries support your local economy & community – By drinking at local microbreweries, like Falling Sky in Eugene, you are putting money directly back into the local economy. This not only benefits the brewery itself but also the farmers who supply it, the staff who run it, and the folks who frequent it (including yourself) – it supports the healthy flow of money throughout the community at large. Some especially cool microbreweries (ahem... Falling Sky) actively give back to their communities by hosting events and gatherings. Falling Sky also contributes through its “Pour It Forward” program which helps raise funds for local non-profits, small businesses, and entrepreneurs.

3. Local beer is environmentally friendly – Commercial beer’s carbon footprint is gigantic, with all the transporting of ingredients, large-scale production, packaging, and distribution. On the other hand, microbreweries like Falling Sky are more likely to use locally-grown ingredients, which cuts down on transportation distances and supports local farmers. Using a small-batch brewing process also cuts down on energy needs for production (and prioritizes quality over quantity). Microbreweries tend to need less packaging because they distribute smaller amounts of product over shorter distances. Falling Sky is also super easy to get to by foot, bike, or bus! All of these things combined mean microbreweries have a notably smaller carbon footprint than commercial breweries.

To summarize, craft beer is better for you, your community, and the environment, so… everything that matters. And let’s not forget, that

A Brief History of Pubs

Pubs have been a central social cornerstone in European culture since the time of the Romans. These community gathering spaces allowed and encouraged locals to get together and often discuss public events — thus the term "public house." They weren't always having hard-hitting conversations, however. Many people would just sit and pass the time. The thing that separated pubs from the cafes of the time was the focus on beer and wine rather than coffee or tea. However, many pub owners capitalized on their location by operating adjacent shops where people could buy general goods. 

A significant portion of Europe's oldest alcoholic beverage companies were first the in-house brand of a small pub, as they began to offer specialized beverages. The focus on beverages often meant that early pubs only had a minuscule variety of food offerings, termed "pub fare." At first, some of our favorite dishes, like fish and chips, started as cheap options for working-class pub patrons. 

Pub history in the United States continued to evolve along similar lines. Pubs in early America were not fancy establishments with menus full of drinks and dishes. They were simply a place for people of all stations and circumstances to gather and converse on an equal playing field. 

The rise of industry produced increased immigration in the s, leading to great diversification in the ingredients available to breweries. With more available ingredients, brewers shifted the American drinking culture to accommodate a much broader range of tastes. Pub patrons were suddenly able to experience a wider range of brews and drinks, such as the Sazerac, which is thought to have been created in New Orleans. 

America's taste for beer and breweries has remained steady. Today, about 63% of adults drink alcohol, with 42% of them preferring beer. In recent years, the number of options beer drinkers have for enjoying their favorite beverage is higher than ever. 

Categorical Differences Between Types of Breweries

There are a few ways to categorize breweries, including by differentiating them based on the production amount. These are some of the categoriese to know when it comes to breweries.

What is a Microbrewery

A microbrewery is a brewery that produces 15,000 barrels or less of beer per year. They must also sell 75% or more of that beer in off-site locations, although some microbreweries have small tasting rooms or a bar for visiting consumers. Microbreweries complete their sales in one of these three ways:

• Three-tier system: The brewer sells to a wholesaler who sells to a retailer who sells to the consumer.

• Two-tier system: The brewer acts as a wholesaler and sells to the retailer who sells to the consumer.

• Direct sales: The brewer sells directly to the consumer via carry-outs or sales from an on-site taproom or restaurant. 

What is a Brewpub

A brewpub is a hybrid between a restaurant and a brewery. It sells at least 25% of its beer on-site in combination with significant food services. At a brewpub, the beer is primarily brewed for sale inside the restaurant or bar. Where it's legally allowed, brewpubs may sell beer to go or distribute it to some offsite destinations.  

What is a Taproom

A taproom brewery is similar to a brewpub in that it sells 25% or more of its beer on-site. The main difference is that there are few if any food services. In taprooms, the experience is all about the beer itself. Like brewpubs, a taproom may sell to-go beer and perform distributions off-site.

What is a Regional Brewery

A regional brewery fits in one of the broader categories. According to the Brewers Association, a regional brewery produces 15,000 to 6,000,000 barrels of beer annually.

What Is an Independent Brewery?

The most basic identifier to know when it comes to breweries is whether or not they are independent. In an independent brewery, less than 25% of the company is controlled or owned by an alcohol industry member that does not qualify as a craft brewer. There have been a few changes to the benchmark of what defines small breweries vs. large breweries, which altered the definition of what it means to be independent. In , the Brewers Association changed the definition of "small" from a maximum of 2 million barrels to 6 million.

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The Brewers Association decided to shake things up again in , by creating the Independent Craft Brewer Seal to identify the breweries who fit the craft brewer definition. Part of this definition is that the brewery be independent, making this a crucial factor in whether a brewery can call itself "craft" or not. As of , more than 4,000 craft brewers are using the seal to differentiate themselves and highlight their quality. This group represents more than 85% of the volume of craft beer produced in the United States. The seal is one way brewers have hit back at the Anheuser-Busch company, which has bought out 10 independent breweries since .  

What Is a Craft Brewery?

A craft brewery is, by definition, an independent brewery. Breweries of this scale produce far smaller amounts of beer as compared to their large-scale corporate counterparts. The term "craft" has to do with the fact that these breweries emphasize quality beer and tend to view beer production as more of an art form driven by passion and finely-honed techniques. In both the United States and the United Kingdom, the craft brewing movement started to gain momentum in the s despite artisanal brewing having existed for centuries in Europe. Here are some crucial characteristics of craft breweries:

• Craft brewers are small and independent, without substantial guidance from any non-craft brewer.

• The hallmark of a craft brewery is innovation.

• Craft brewers provide new interpretations of historical styles as well as new, unprecedented styles of beer.

• Craft brews are made with traditional ingredients as a base, and often include non-traditional ingredients that provide distinction. 

• Craft brewers are often closely involved in local communities, providing philanthropy, donations, volunteers and event sponsorships.

• Craft brewers often like to connect with their customers in an individualistic and distinct manner. 

Craft breweries are everywhere. Almost 79% of American adults live within 10 miles of a brewery, with the majority of them being craft breweries. There are some misconceptions about craft breweries that are important to clear up. The most pervasive one is likely that craft beers are all powerfully distinct and possibly overwhelming in flavor. This is certainly the case for many craft brews, as the popularity of different high-alcohol IPAs proves, but craft brewing also affords brewers the opportunity to experiment with milder tastes and a lower alcohol content. 

Many people believe you can always distinguish a craft beer from one produced by a macrobrewery, with the latter having a weaker and more bland flavor. There's no true way to identify a craft beer besides looking into the brewery that created it, but there are a few differences that make craft beer stand out in a positive light. 

• Appearance: You may have noticed that mass-produced beers are often the same shade of watery yellow, and the head dissolves away quite quickly when you pour into a glass. Craft beers come in an astonishing array of colors that depend on the brew, and their heads look better, last longer and provide a better flavor.

• Taste: Because mass-produced beers must maintain homogeneity, they are often very flat and bland in flavor — which is why they are served as cold as possible. Craft beer has more nuanced flavors that typically come out at warmer temperatures.

• Production: Macrobrewers are in it for the money, and it shows in the cheaper ingredients they use to lower the cost of production as well as the finished product. Where many macrobrewers used to use traditional hops, they now substitute rice or corn as a cost-cutting method. 

Craft breweries are defined by their commitment to quality ingredients, both novel and traditional, and brewing techniques that are designed to maximize flavor and aroma rather than profit. 

What Is a Brewpub?

Gastropubs are the newest iteration on the tried and true tavern and public house. The difference between a gastropub vs brewpub is the focus on food. The moniker comes from adding "gastronomy," the practice or art of cooking and eating quality food, to the familiar scene of the pub. This trend began in the s and 90s, as "foodie" culture began to take hold in earnest. Pubs began to realize that if people would flock to a brewery for a unique beer experience, they might also enjoy pairing it with a unique food experience. 

The first authentic, self-declared gastropub was The Eagle in London, which debuted in . Rather than the mundane menu of fried foods and less-than-exceptional service English pubs are known for, the Eagle presented a novel and exciting experience combining innovative food with quality brews. 

While England enjoyed the gastropub and the establishments began popping up in Europe, the craze didn't hit the United States until with the opening of the Spotted Pig in New York City's West Village. Its resounding success caused a slew of others to spring up around the city soon after, and now you can find a great gastropub in any metropolitan area. 

What Is a Microbrewery?

Where do microbreweries fit into all of this? The microbrewery definition is simple. A microbrewery makes less than 15,000 barrels of beer each year, and 75% or more of it must be served off-site. The term is unfortunately unclear to many, with people often using "microbrewery" to refer to any business that brews craft beer. The only difference between a craft brewery and a microbrewery is volume. A craft brewery doesn't necessarily indicate a microbrewery, although many microbreweries do brew craft beer. Likewise, a microbrewery does still have to meet craft brewing standards to be a craft brewery. 

There is also the term "nanobrewery," which is similar to the definition of a microbrewery in terms of focusing on craft beer. However, there is no specific production volume or limit for a nanobrewery. In general, the term is used to refer to a brewery run by just one or two brewers. Like microbreweries, nanobreweries can sell their beer in a three-tier, two-tier or direct sale structure. 

These terms can also be used in combination with other terms. For instance, you would not be in the wrong to refer to the brewing section of a brewpub as a microbrewery as long as you actually know how much volume the brewer produces.

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