Don't Let Indifference and Silence Run Through Craft Beer: China Craft Brewers Association (CBAC) is Founded!

“We don't drink industrial beer.” At 7:00 PM, near Beijing West Railway Station, at a craft beer bar called “40+”, a middle-aged man raised a pint glass to toast his friend. He was in his early 40s, still in his suit and shirt from work, and only drank craft beer. “Industrial beer” is a playful term used by craft beer enthusiasts to refer to mass-produced beer. Compared to industrial beer, craft beer is known for its pursuit of more distinctive flavors. In China, beer is an imported product, and the concept of craft beer has only become popular in recent years. Craft beer originated from European homebrewing traditions, but it was in the United States that the craft beer revolution first took off.

Craft beer originated in the United States and flourished there Craft beer first originated in the United States. The three main characteristics of American craft beer are small scale, high independence, and strong tradition. According to the Brewers Association's precise definition of craft beer, they have three strict criteria for American craft breweries, which have been in use for many years: (1) Annual production of no more than 6 million barrels (2) The brewery is not controlled by, or less than 25% of its shares are held by, a non-craft brewery (3) At least one flagship product, or more than 50% of sales, is made without using adjuncts, or if adjuncts are used, they are to enhance flavor rather than reduce it.

The Brewers Association roughly categorizes craft breweries into four types: regional craft breweries, contract brewing companies, brewpubs, and microbreweries. Most of America's craft beer production comes from regional craft breweries and microbreweries, while the share of contract brewing companies is shrinking, and brewpubs are increasingly popular with consumers.

Types of craft beer Craft beer names generally fall into the following categories: Lager Lager originated in Germany; the word “lager” comes from the German “lagern” (to store), and it uses yeast that ferments at the bottom of the liquid. Most industrial beers are lagers, with representative brands such as Heineken from the Netherlands, Budweiser from the US, and Tsingtao Beer from China. Ale Ale originated in the UK and typically uses top-fermenting yeast, which ferments faster than bottom-fermenting yeast. Its typical fermentation temperature is 15-24°C, at which the yeast produces a large amount of esters and other special aromas, sometimes resulting in beers with fruity notes like apple, pear, pineapple, banana, plum, and prune. Newcastle and Bass from the UK are representative brands of this type. Stout Stout is a dark brown beer using top fermentation, made from roasted barley malt, with a strong burnt flavor but fine foam and a mellow aftertaste, favored by connoisseurs. The representative brand is Guinness from the UK, which is a type of stout. IPA (India Pale Ale) IPA is an abbreviation for “India Pale Ale,” literally translated as “Indian pale ale,” a type of ale with a heavy hop character. IPA was originally brewed in England to supply British colonies in India. It had higher alcohol content and more hops to withstand long sea voyages without spoiling. Later, with the end of colonial rule and the rapid rise of industrial beer, it was almost forgotten by the world. It wasn't until the mid-to-late 20th century, when the US launched a “craft beer movement” against the big factory model and positioned its brewing style on IPA, that it truly shone. In recent years, due to IPA's worldwide popularity, “India” in the craft beer world has transformed from a country name into a synonym for intense hop aroma, giving rise to new styles like India Pale Lager and India Saison. Additionally, the US has designated the first Thursday of August as National IPA Day.

In the 1960s in the United States, in pursuit of a richer beer drinking experience, the first generation of craft beer pioneers began exploring different flavors and varieties. Amber ales, lagers, porters, and stouts began to enter people's lives. In later years, Belgian-style beers came into view, including white beers, bottle-conditioned ales, lambic-style beers, and ales with various fruit flavors. During the brewing process, brewers pursued different beer styles and techniques, new ingredients were continually introduced, and oak barrels gradually became a favorite among brewers. Barrels used for whiskey, wine, rum, and mezcal were innovatively incorporated into the beer brewing process.

In the 1970s, due to mergers and economic downturns, fewer than 100 breweries remained in the US. By September 2015, the number of breweries in the US had surpassed 4,000 again, with over 3,400 craft breweries. Since the concept of craft beer swept the globe, the craft beer revolution that began in the US in the 1960s is still ongoing. Now, that number has doubled. To some extent, this fire has spread to China.

Craft beer in China Craft beer is not a classification of a particular type of beer. To some extent, the pursuit of craft beer is more like a rebellion of the urban middle class against modern industrialization. Now, craft beer is increasingly becoming an indispensable part of China's urban culture.

Today, in Beijing's major commercial areas and small hutongs, one can see more and more bars and restaurants selling craft beer. Whether in small pubs or barbecue joints, Chinese restaurants or Western-style bars, customers can easily find several imported craft beers on the menu, and they are increasingly becoming the front line for craft brands. Many craft beer enthusiasts have opened their own bars and are constantly trying to brew beers with consistent flavor. Every day, some craft beer bars close due to poor management, but that doesn't stop a large number of new ones from rising.

2012 is defined by the craft beer circle as the first year of craft beer in China. A single spark can start a prairie fire, and China's craft beer pioneers are not alone. That year, Gao Yan founded Master Gao. Later, Pan Dinghao founded Panda Brew. Yin Hai founded NBeer. Other brands that rose in succession include Dao Brew, Dangge, Laotao, Fengkuang, Wenshan Malt, Drunk Xiamen,莱宝 (Laibao), and Ublau. In just a few years, nearly 10 local bottled craft beer brands recognized by Chinese craft beer enthusiasts have been born.

Similar to the situation in the US, the founders of craft breweries were once homebrew enthusiasts. Amid the wave of consumption upgrading, a flame of entrepreneurship for local Chinese craft beer brands is quietly spreading.

CBAC Founding Declaration The China Craft Brewers Association, English name: Craft Brewers Association of China, abbreviated as CBAC.

Beer, as the most widely enjoyed alcoholic beverage, should better fit people's lifestyles and reflect the various cultures produced by human social activities. We, the beer practitioners, believe that beer is a product of multiculturalism. Practitioners should respect its characteristics of high quality, diversity, and free development. In view of this, we believe that beer should have diverse raw materials, diverse brewing processes, and brewers from diverse backgrounds. Its types should not be unified, its production models should not be restricted, and its market should not be monopolized.

While promoting the diversity of beer, we always require ourselves to win social recognition through high quality, ethical business practices, and responsible social conduct. There may be differences among us in technical level, cultural background, and market capability, but we share the same pursuit: to make our lives more beautiful with a richer variety of beer.

Craft beer has only appeared in China for a few short years, but it has gradually become popular nationwide. We believe that the small, independent, localized, and distinctive microbreweries and brewpubs founded by dream-filled beer enthusiasts and pursuers of a better life are the greatest driving force and internal cause for the rapid spread of this culture across the country. We hope to unite every such brand, to sustain this vitality, and to make craft beer in China more diverse, prosperous, and beautiful.

Unfortunately, as in every other country, the rise of the industry, especially the recent rise of craft beer in various countries, brings with it the inherent desire of large capital and groups for monopoly. Moreover, China's unique national conditions impose various restrictions on beer production, while the loose regulation of large groups in beer distribution provides natural soil for monopoly. Such monopoly will pose serious obstacles to existing and upcoming small brands, inevitably affecting the final choices of every distributor, every store, and every consumer, and inevitably affecting the future of diversified craft beer development in China.

In view of this, we refer to the definition of craft beer by the Brewers Association in the birthplace of craft beer, the United States, and combine it with China's national conditions. With independence and small scale as the core principles, we believe that craft beer in China should be:

1. Beer production and sales enterprises with an annual output of less than 20,000 tons, including any of the following methods. a. Beer production and processing enterprises, b. Catering enterprises that brew beer on site, c. Enterprises that develop and sell their own beer brand products.

2. The enterprise's shareholders do not include other beer industry enterprise shareholders that are not craft beer enterprises.

3. Members must be legal business entities with a business license and the ability to issue invoices.

4. The organization must have at least one full-time brewer responsible for daily brewing operations.

5. Unless to enhance beer flavor, no adjuncts or additives other than malt, hops, yeast, and water may be used in the beer.

6. Enterprises must not engage in false or misleading advertising.

We believe that the definition of craft beer is not a definition of the beer itself, but a protection of this culture and this industry. Craft and non-craft are not opposites in terms of the beer itself, because each has its own characteristics, but rather opposites in culture, the opposition between diversity and monopoly. We hope to use this concept to protect ourselves and also protect the right of choice of every distributor, store, and especially beer consumer.

Hereby, we unite to establish the China Craft Brewers Association, and together we announce our values and code of conduct to society. While engaging in self-discipline and self-improvement, we also sincerely request society's supervision and recognition. We will also unite, using the association as a carrier, to conduct more activities and promotions, seek more benefits for members, and let Chinese craft beer explode more brilliantly—!

If you also identify with our values and your company meets our criteria for the definition of craft beer, you are welcome to join us, speak out with us, and work together for the colorful and interesting future of Chinese craft beer. Please click the “Read Original” link to sign up to join the association, and our staff will contact you~