**2. Craft beer: as a movement from bottom to top fermentation. The reemergence of craft brewing**

Different cultures and different civilization historically produced a number of fermented beverages/beer with different raw materials, which allowed them to have different attributes and different names. Beer is a relatively simple fermented product, mainly water in its composition, which makes easily produced locally; however, for a long time the difficulty to move long distances permits to flourish craft brewers everywhere in the world [19]. However, at present, it is not an impediment due to technological advances and transportation progress.

The craft beer movement or revolution began in the USA after the 13 years of national prohibition of alcohol or "the noble experiment" 1919–1933. In 1965, Fritz Maytag, the man of the craft beer renaissance, bought the Anchor Steam Beer Company of San Francisco with a capacity of 50,000 barrels and developed it as a craft brewery outlet [20, 21]. Regarding the USA, this was the milestone to the expanding innovation and an increasing trend in terms of production and sales of beers with differentiated quality.

Even though this movement marked a shift in several countries recently, to mention some, in 1988 the earliest brewpub lay foundation in Italy [22], while in the Netherlands the craft revolution rouse during the year 1981 [23], in Australia, craft brewing started late 1984 [24]. At the same time, it is very difficult to put a time limit for the beginning of craft beer production in some European countries like the UK, Belgium and Germany where these countries were either with a long tradition in "special beers" or the historical existence of small and local producers back to the 1970s [25, 26].

#### **3. Craft beer: statistical viewpoint**

One of the indicators for the expansion of craft beer renaissance in different countries is the statistical approach. However, there is no common shared definition of craft beer but different associations and entities of different countries remark based on the size of the firm, production volume raw materials used to produce such drink, degree of independence and way to brew [27]. Even though there is data scarcity on the numbers of microbreweries of different countries, in **Table 1**, those microbreweries actually existing in different countries of the five continents are represented, where beer production is traditional or its consumption is highly relevant at present. The statistical data reflected in this chapter encompasses all beer producers recognized as craft brewery, artisanal brewery, microbrewery, independent brewery, specialty brewery, Brewpub, local brewery, Regional brewery and Contract brewing company in accordance with the regulation rules of different countries without establishing any distinctions among them.

Even though Mergers and acquisitions seem to reduce the number of major brewing firms, the total production in volume is not affected. This tendency provides an opportunity to the merged breweries to take advantage over the microbreweries in terms of economical scale and increased market share. Despite the macrobrewers dominance, worldwide craft beer numbers are increasing at a rapid rate [28].

### **4. New tendencies: is the glass half-full or half-empty for brewers?**

The last two decades brewing landscape continues to rise in number of micro and craft breweries almost everywhere in the world. As it is shown below (**Table 1**), in the last decade, from 2008 to 2017, the number of craft breweries significantly

**85**

Europe Czech Republic1

France1 Germany1 The Netherlands

Poland

Spain America The USA

Africa South Africa

Asia

 Japan Oceania

 Australia  New Zealand

*1[29].*

*2[24, 26].*

*3[29].*

*4[30].*

*5[31].*

*6[32].*

*7[27].*

*8[29].*

*9[33].*

**Table 1.** *Microbrewery expansion in the last decade sample countries by continent.*

N/A N/A

N/A

624

594

654

794

984

1114

1304

N/A

N/A

1722

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

3582

4102

N/A

N/A

N/A

2082

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2222

N/A

N/A

**2008** 1755

57 N/A 594 N/A

795 21 671 13217

N/A

226

226

276

346

546

636

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2779

15967

17547

20167

62667 Canada

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

6109

6123

N/A

24207

28987

37397

45447

54247

694

778

27

46

70

502 The UK

898

1250

1440

1414

1828

2198

2378

114

203

314

409

465

895

1075

1335

1645

2125

2635

3085

N/A

N/A

N/A

1152

N/A

N/A

N/A

222

3802

4343

N/A

628

646

659

665

668

677

723

738

824

263

322

373

293

504

566

690

850

1000

51

65

90

20

2078

238

202

350

402

2123

2407

2670

3094

3616

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

**2009**

**2010**

**2011**

**2012**

**2013**

**2014**

**2015**

**2016**

**2017**

*Craft Beers: Current Situation and Future Trends DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90006*


*Craft Beers: Current Situation and Future Trends DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90006*

*New Advances on Fermentation Processes*

beers with differentiated quality.

**3. Craft beer: statistical viewpoint**

**The reemergence of craft brewing**

**2. Craft beer: as a movement from bottom to top fermentation.** 

ment due to technological advances and transportation progress.

Different cultures and different civilization historically produced a number of fermented beverages/beer with different raw materials, which allowed them to have different attributes and different names. Beer is a relatively simple fermented product, mainly water in its composition, which makes easily produced locally; however, for a long time the difficulty to move long distances permits to flourish craft brewers everywhere in the world [19]. However, at present, it is not an impedi-

The craft beer movement or revolution began in the USA after the 13 years of national prohibition of alcohol or "the noble experiment" 1919–1933. In 1965, Fritz Maytag, the man of the craft beer renaissance, bought the Anchor Steam Beer Company of San Francisco with a capacity of 50,000 barrels and developed it as a craft brewery outlet [20, 21]. Regarding the USA, this was the milestone to the expanding innovation and an increasing trend in terms of production and sales of

Even though this movement marked a shift in several countries recently, to mention some, in 1988 the earliest brewpub lay foundation in Italy [22], while in the Netherlands the craft revolution rouse during the year 1981 [23], in Australia, craft brewing started late 1984 [24]. At the same time, it is very difficult to put a time limit for the beginning of craft beer production in some European countries like the UK, Belgium and Germany where these countries were either with a long tradition in "special beers" or the historical existence of small and local producers back to the 1970s [25, 26].

One of the indicators for the expansion of craft beer renaissance in different countries is the statistical approach. However, there is no common shared definition of craft beer but different associations and entities of different countries remark based on the size of the firm, production volume raw materials used to produce such drink, degree of independence and way to brew [27]. Even though there is data scarcity on the numbers of microbreweries of different countries, in **Table 1**, those microbreweries actually existing in different countries of the five continents are represented, where beer production is traditional or its consumption is highly relevant at present. The statistical data reflected in this chapter encompasses all beer producers recognized as craft brewery, artisanal brewery, microbrewery, independent brewery, specialty brewery, Brewpub, local brewery, Regional brewery and Contract brewing company in accordance with the regulation rules of different

Even though Mergers and acquisitions seem to reduce the number of major brewing firms, the total production in volume is not affected. This tendency provides an opportunity to the merged breweries to take advantage over the microbreweries in terms of economical scale and increased market share. Despite the macrobrewers dominance, worldwide craft beer numbers are increasing at a rapid rate [28].

**4. New tendencies: is the glass half-full or half-empty for brewers?**

The last two decades brewing landscape continues to rise in number of micro and craft breweries almost everywhere in the world. As it is shown below (**Table 1**), in the last decade, from 2008 to 2017, the number of craft breweries significantly

countries without establishing any distinctions among them.

**84**

**Table 1.**

*Microbrewery expansion in the last decade sample countries by continent.*

**Figure 1.** *Percentage of craft beer producers (2013–2017).*

increased globally. In fact it passed from 671 to 2378 in the UK (traditionally beer-producing and beer-drinking country), and from 1321 to 6266 in the USA, an increase of 354 and 474% respectively, within the same period (not traditional beer producer country). This increase in number of craft breweries and production volume run up to an increase in compound annual growth rate (CAGR) within the sector. Craft brewing continues to take market share away from the largest brewing companies. According to Brewers Association report (the U.S. beer sales volume growth 2017, National beer sales and production statistical data), the overall U.S. beer volume sales were down 1% in 2017, whereas craft brewer sales continued to grow at a rate of 5% by volume, reaching 12.7% of the U.S. beer market by volume. Craft production grew the most for microbreweries. Retail dollar sales of craft increased 8%, up to \$26.0 billion, and now account for more than 23% of the \$111.4 billion U.S. beer market [27]. Percentage of craft beer producers (2013–2017) can be seen in **Figure 1**.

There are various factors, which favored this increase in overall craft beer consumption. These factors include per capita income growth, the availability of alternatives toward the production of successful and high levels of quality beers, increased health concerns, and the emergence of new government regulations that affects directly the sustainability issue and consistency and innovation among many others.
