Lotte Peplow, Brewers Association’s American Craft Beer Ambassador for Europe, is excited about American craft beer opportunities this summer
Photographs: Brewers Association
This month, global attention is firmly focused on North America as the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence and the FIFA World Cup takes place in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Adding to the excitement, a raft of activities is taking place in the UK highlighting the heritage and influence of American craft beer.
There has never been a better time for UK beer lovers to discover authentic, high-quality American craft beer. Look out for three exciting opportunities this month:
- Waitrose | A major promotion in store features three exceptional American craft beer brands and runs until November. Alongside the iconic and much-loved Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, two beers are making their Waitrose debut: Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA. All three are genuine American products, brewed in the United States and exported to the UK. The promotion will be supported by in-store sampling in select Waitrose locations, eye-catching shelf displays, and editorial coverage in Waitrose Food magazine, helping beer lovers discover the quality, diversity, and availability of American craft beer.
- BrewDog | Eight authentic American craft breweries pouring 18 new beers, now available through BrewDog bars and direct to consumers on BrewDog.com. Featured breweries include 10 Barrel Brewing Co, Alpine Beer Co, Blue Point Brewing Co, Green Flash Brewing Co, Montauk Brewing Co, Shock Top, Sweetwater Brewing Co, and Terrapin Beer Co, giving UK beer lovers access to an exciting range of styles and flavours just in time for an unforgettable summer of sport and celebration.
- London Craft Beer Festival | An outstanding selection of world-class American craft beers will take centre stage in Southwark Park, London, on 17th and 18th July, thanks to the support of the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association which represents small and independent American craft brewers. Sixteen American craft breweries will showcase 42 different beers, and brewery representatives will be present to pour beer and engage with festival-goers, while a series of masterclass tastings will provide deeper insights into innovation, creativity, and brewing expertise that have made American craft beer a global inspiration. Find out more about the festival here.
Having stocked your fridge with American craft beer, get ready to celebrate Independence Day on 4th July, or cheer on your favourite team at the World Cup while enjoying classic American beer and food pairings. Grilled favourites, such as burgers, ribs, hot dogs, and fried chicken, pair perfectly with the bold, flavour-forward character of American pale ales and IPAs, while traditional sides, including cornbread, coleslaw, and bean salad, complete the experience. And no American celebration would be complete without apple pie for dessert, perhaps paired with a complementary fruited sour.
What makes American craft beer different?
American craft brewers have an advantage over other brewing nations due to their close proximity to some of the world’s premier hop-growing regions. This allows them to hand-select the freshest, highest-quality, most sought-after hops available. Many brewers visit the hop fields themselves multiple times a year and work directly with the growers to create new and exciting hop variants that define world-class beer. This proximity to the raw ingredients helps them stand apart.
History
There are several seminal events in the history of American craft beer:
- The purchase of Anchor Brewing by Fritz Maytag in 1965. He helped to revive old brewing techniques and introduced innovative new approaches.
- The development of the Cascade hop in 1971 by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) hop breeding programme. Its complex, fruit-forward, full flavour helped change the way American beer was perceived.
- The legalisation for homebrewing in 1979. From the end of prohibition in 1933 to 1979, homebrewing had been illegal and mass-produced light lager was the dominant beer style. After the ban was lifted, aspiring homebrewers had the freedom to turn their hobby into a business
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co launched in 1980 with the launch of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale using the new Cascade hop giving intense aromas of pine and citrus. Other forerunners of the US craft beer scene quickly, followed such as Boston Beer Co (Samuel Adams) and Deschutes Brewery. Today, many of the small and independent American craft breweries export overseas and the UK is a popular destination.
As we celebrate America’s independence, let’s raise a glass to the pioneering spirit of independent American craft brewers. Their commitment to quality, flavour, and innovation helped spark the modern craft beer revolution and continues to influence brewers and inspire beer lovers around the world today.
US craft beer in the UK
The UK is an important export market for American craft beer, accounting for 8.2% of all exports and ranks as the third largest market globally. American craft beer is available through selected bars, pubs, and dining venues, as well as bottle shops, off-licences, and supermarkets, and online from Athletic Brewing, Brew Export, Beer Merchants, Cask International, Cave Direct, Distant Lands, Hop the Pond, and Sierra Nevada UK.
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 5,600-plus 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, and American Craft Beer Week. The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine, and Brewers Publications is the leading 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.
About the author
Lotte Peplow is the American craft beer ambassador for Europe for the Brewers Association and is based in London. She is a certified cicerone, BDI-accredited beer sommelier, beer writer, author, beer communicator, international beer judge, homebrewer, and beer lover.
