If you drink beer, by now you understand “macro” vs “micro” brewing. Obviously your BMC (Bud, Miller, Coors) qualify as your macro breweries. SweetWater, Stone, Dogfish Head, 3 Floyds, etc are micro brewers aka -craft brewers. The question I hear a lot is what is the difference? First and foremost obviously the beer makes the difference. I mean, put a miller light up against a Stone Levitation. Come on, its a no brainer. A bigger qualifier – production. Allow me to simplify.
The Brewers Association of America basically decides the output definition of macro vs. micro. The Brewers Association is made up of over 1,200 brewers – mainly craft brewers. Until yesterday- the production cut off was 2,000,000 barrels. This knocked Sam Adams (Boston Beer Company) out of the “craft/micro” designation and into big macro territory.
Yesterday’s definition amendment by the Brewer’s Association changed the output qualification from 2 million barrels to 6 million. So, for now The Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams) remains craft.
Question for the readers? What makes craft beer to you? Output? Size? Would you still love Dogfish Head Brewing & Stone Brewing if they produced 4 million barrels a year? Discuss.
