Lotte Peplow, American craft beer ambassador in Europe for the Brewers Association, on Independence Day celebrations, and what’s in store for American craft beer in the UK this summer…
This Sunday, 4th July, marks Independence Day July, a day when America comes together to celebrate its independence with fireworks, parades, barbecues, family gatherings, and, of course, American craft beer!
The tradition of Independence Day dates back to 1776, when America formally separated from British rule. Today in America a battle is raging over independence of a different kind. Large multi-national brewing companies continue to purchase formerly small and independent American breweries and pass them off as craft breweries. This is why, our years ago, the Brewers Association introduced a seal to identify independent craft breweries.
The Independent Craft Brewer Seal differentiates independent craft brewers from ‘big’ multi-national brewers and has been adopted by nearly 5,500 small and independent craft breweries representing 85% of domestic volume. According to recent Harris Poll data, drinking beer made by an independent brewer is important to 77% of weekly craft beer drinkers.
Here in the UK, beer lovers will be lucky enough to sample sought-after, innovative, high- quality independent American craft beers that are never normally available on these shores at a series of beer festivals and tastings this summer.
The Brewers Association will be representing 27 American craft breweries and flying over more than 80 fresh, creative, exciting, and leading-edge American craft beers for sampling for the first time at the new Manchester Craft Beer Festival (23rd-24th July), BrewLDN (29th-31st July), and London Craft Beer Festival (13th-15th August). This represents a golden opportunity to sample top-condition American craft beers that are unavailable anywhere else in the UK.
Diversity of style and a strict adherence to quality are hallmarks of America’s small and independent craft brewers, and they continue to push the boundaries of brewing innovation and expertise. Beers on offer include the gamut of beer styles, strengths, flavours, and brewing techniques, ranging from crisp and clean Helles lager and refreshing gose at under 5% ABV, to Belgian-style blond ales, aged in Chardonnay barrels, and a quadruple oatmeal Russian imperial stout at 15.7% ABV.
No American craft beer offering would be complete without a range of world-class, distinctive pale ales, IPAs, and DIPAs, showcasing sought-after hop varieties and flavours for which American craft brewing is renowned.
Many of the beers on offer are award winners at prestigious international beer competitions and/or iconic beers in their own right. Whatever your preference, there is a style of American craft beer to suit both novice craft beer lover and aficionado alike.
Festivals serve a vital purpose for American craft beer because they offer a chance for beer lovers to sample beers they may have never tried before and provide a forum for members of the beer industry to discuss international export opportunities with brewery representatives.
On 4th July, many Americans will be celebrating Independence Day with a beer made by an independent brewer. Since the start of the pandemic, more routes to market for American craft beer have been created in the UK, via online retailers such as Beer Hop, Beer Merchants, Beer Bruvs, and the Cascade Club. It is now easier than ever to track down and purchase fresh examples online.
American craft beer is also available throughout the UK, in bottle shops, independent retailers, supermarkets, pubs, bars, and restaurants.
About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts.
The BA represents 5,400 US breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers.
The BA organises events including the World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America, SAVOR: An American Craft Beer and Food Experience, Homebrew Con, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week.
The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine, and Brewers Publications is the largest publisher of brewing literature in the US.
Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association and the free Brew Guru mobile app.
