Craft breweries – small beer or big opportunity?

While the European beer market has hit a plateau, craft beers are on an upward trend. Such is their popularity that this year the Office of National Statistics has added craft beer to the basket of goods used to calculate the Consumer Price Index. Now top two brewer, SABMiller, has announced it’s to buy independent London-based craft brewer, Meantime Brewing Company. It’s the first time a big brewer has bought what market commentators refer to as a ‘new wave’ UK craft brewer. Meantime was an early entrant to the UK craft beer sector and benefits from London pub distribution and national supermarket availability. With their London credentials, Meantime beers are well positioned for export into mainland Europe.

Read the full review from Jonny Forsyth, Global Drinks Analyst at Mintel.

The Top 5 Global Brewers

Sources: Top 5 of Anything. Barth Reports 2000-2014 

Will the Meantime brand lose its beer drinkers now it's part of big business? These Mintel key facts indicate that it’ll probably be business as usual:

1. 28% of UK adults don’t mind which company produces the beer as long as it tastes good.
2. 24% of UK adults would be interested in trying a craft/craft-style beer from a large brewer
3. 21% of UK adults would not be interested in trying a craft beer from a big brewer.

This SABMiller acquisition reflects consumers’ changing demand, with many beer drinkers looking for premium alternatives. Added to this the connections between younger male drinkers and beer brands have altered according to Mintel. In the 1990s and 2000s, it was OK to be identified by your brand as a Heineken drinker, but today there’s more kudos in drinking something your friends haven’t heard of yet.

Related articles

Shortlist: The rise and rise of craft beers

The Huffington Post: London’s 5 best craft beer breweries

The Telegraph: Craft beer – the top 10 beers to try