When it comes to likes and dislikes, tastes, and preferences, everyone is different.
The good news is that due to the variety of drinks that are widely available, you can choose what you like when you like it – and this even applies when it comes to different types of beers now available.
From light to dark, pilsner or craft, we now have a selection of beers to choose from that meet unique tastes and quench individual thirsts.
Mass-produced beers may not vary considerably in taste, but to hit that unique flavour and taste spot, is craft beers.
This leads us to a question we’re often asked: “Which one is better, craft or mass-produced?”
In this post, 4Ts Brewery looks at the difference between craft beer, what is industrial
beer and, ultimately, what this means for you.
What is mass-produced beer?
Mass-produced beer is those large commercial beer brands you’ve most likely seen in every supermarket, no matter which part of the UK or even overseas location you have visited.
Large-scale breweries produce commercial beers using a consistent recipe, cheaper ingredients, and mechanical brewing techniques to achieve mass distribution.
What is craft beer?
Craft beers are very artistic in their appearance and how they’re brewed. Craft beers are brewed by local, independent breweries like ourselves, creating unique flavours for local customers.
Produced in microbreweries, independent brewers use high-quality ingredients to create very distinct and unique flavours, and where the focus is on quality over quantity.
Craft beer vs commercial beer
There are unique differences between craft beers from 4Ts Brewery, for example, and everyday commercial beers.
For example:
Taste
Mass-produced beers have a distinct taste, which can vary slightly (but only slightly) depending on the ingredients used and the brewing process it goes through. Not to sound too harsh on mass-produced beers, but you will find a monotonous taste associated with commercial beers.
In comparison, craft beers have a very unique brewing process and use a range of ingredients to create a variety of different tastes.
Brewing process
The mass beer brewing process is typically automated to produce large volumes and quickly. Often, low-quality ingredients are used, emphasising a cost-effective process.
Craft beers are sustainably created. Smaller breweries allow brewers to keep everything fresh and ferment beer to the point of perfection. Microbreweries always choose the best ingredients in their quest for innovation and uniqueness, and even though the brewing process is longer, you can always be assured of high quality.
Appearance
Due to their cost-effective nature, commercial beers are often plain in appearance with no interesting details. They provide a level of consistency that, as a consumer, you can rely on and will typically be a light yellow or dark brown composition.
Alternatively, craft beers come in a range of colours, with brewers choosing flavours to add to the brewing process to give the beer a unique taste and appearance.
Craft beers can also come in some pretty standout artwork on their bottles and cans.
Variety
Mass-produced beers are consistent in their taste and style.
On the other hand, craft brewers love to experiment with ingredients and style to create more of a variety of beers, producing more variations in colour, strength, and smell.
Availability
You will typically be able to find mass-produced commercial beer brands anywhere. In contrast, craft beers are locally produced, so you could potentially try something different in every new place that you visit.
Affordability
As mass-produced beer is produced on a larger scale, production costs are lower, meaning it is cheaper for the consumer to purchase than craft beer.
However, craft beers use higher-quality ingredients and put a lot of care into the brewing process, so sometimes we have to weigh up quality vs cost.
Quality
Craft beers provide a higher level of quality in taste and style, producing a fine finish compared to mass-produced beers.
Alcohol content
Commercial beers focus on a tried, tested, and never-altering recipe that offers a high level of consistency.
Then you have craft beers that see brewers create to achieve perfection and hence can provide a range of strengths, from as low as 0.5% up to 12%.
Alcohol consistency
Commercial beers have their brewing processes nailed, so alcohol consistency in terms of strength and ingredients is the same every time.
Craft….well, it all depends on your preference!
Beers in Warrington
A good beer can certainly help to quench your thirst. Providing that cold, smooth texture that quietly hits the spot.
As we know, not all beers taste the same, and there isn’t one better than the other, but a beer to suit a variety of different tastes and styles.
Craft beers are evolving, and with signature flavours and unique aromas, why not try something new?
Beer kegs Warrington.
We’re fiercely proud of our brews, which use only the highest quality ingredients, and we pay due care and attention to every stage of the brewing process.
Check out some of our craft beers Warrington.
