What is the difference between various types of breweries?

Microbrewery

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The microbrewery is classified according to the number of beers produced in a year (in barrels). They can produce up to 15,000 barrels of beer each year, and 75% of the beer needs to be sold outside the brewery.
Although 75% or more of the beer in the microbrewery must be sold outside the brewery. But there will still be some microbreweries selling beer to beer consumers in small tasting rooms or bars. Microbrewery complete sales in one of three ways:

• Three-tier sales: brewers sell to wholesalers, wholesalers sell to retailers, and retailers sell to consumers.
• Two-tier sales: brewers act as wholesalers and sell to retailers, and retailers sell to consumers.
• Direct sales: Brewers sell directly to consumers through takeaway or sales at on-site bars or restaurants.

Nano Brewery

The difference between nano-brewery and microbrewery lies in the size of the brewery. The simple definition of nano-brewery is any brewery that produces batches of three barrels or less. Also, the newly promulgated New Hampshire law has increased the definition of nano-brewery. Nano brewery is defined as a brewery that produces less than 2,000 barrels per year.

Brewpub

The brewpub is a combination of restaurants and breweries. It needs to sell at least 25% of beer on-site, and it needs to provide consumers with delicious food. In brewpub, beer is mainly to provide more choices for consumers in restaurants or bars. Of course, where permitted by law, brewpubs will also sell beer like other regions.
Brewpubs have the unique advantage of being able to dispense beer directly from storage tanks in the brewery. These large tanks are often used as the aesthetic cornerstone of enterprises because they have a strong industrial visual appeal. The presence of cans also provides an authentic atmosphere, which many consumers appreciate when accepting craft beer. The setup of a brewpub often showcases the way the beer is brewed as well as the technical skill required to produce a quality beverage.
When legal, many brewpubs also operate takeaway services and establish distributors in other regions to help build their brands.

Taproom Brewery

Taproom brewery is similar to a brewpub in that it also needs to sell more than 25% of beer on-site. The main difference between Brewpub and taproom is that taproom does not provide food service. Of course, taprooms can also sell beer like other regions.

Regional brewery

A regional brewery refers to a brewery that serves beer in a fixed geographical location. Regional breweries belong to one of the broader categories. According to the Association of Brewers, a regional brewery produces 15,000 to 6,000,000 barrels of beer each year.

Craft brewery

A craft brewery needs to brew no more than 2 million gallons of craft beer each year, and the brewery is independently owned. Unlike microbreweries, craft breweries impose restrictions on beer production technology. The beer produced by craft breweries must contain at least 50% traditional malt instead of grains such as oats, barley, and wheat. The term &#;craft brewing&#; in craft beer comes from the fact that these breweries regard brewing beer as an art form. They don&#;t want to compete with large breweries. Craft breweries are small and independently owned, and need to establish contact with customers frequently. They are more concerned about the taste and aroma of craft beer and are not very concerned about whether they can make huge profits.
The craft beer brewing industry is proud of high-quality raw materials, reliable equipment, and unique brewing techniques. Because of this, craft beer usually uses high-quality raw materials for small-batch brewing, rather than large-scale and large-scale production of beer like a large brewery.

Unless you&#;ve been doing your drinking under a rock, you&#;ve noticed that the modern craft beer movement of the past decade sparked a steep rise in brewery openings all across the country. In fact, Statista reported 8,386 breweries in the United States as of , compared to just 2,670 in . From tiny corner brewpubs to large campuses with warehouse-sized brewing facilities, today&#;s breweries come in a wide range of sizes. But, which are actually &#;craft?&#; 

Craft breweries produce small amounts of beer at a time (no more than 6 million barrels a year, according to the Brewers Association), with a focus on exploring unique flavors, ingredients, and styles. Craft beer is also independent &#; less than 25% of the brewery is owned or operated by a non-craft brewer. The BA reports that 98% of all breweries in the U.S. are now considered craft breweries.

At Tavour, we work with over 600 different independent craft breweries of varying specialties and sizes. Here&#;s a rundown of the 6 types of breweries all craft beer fans should know. Time to wow your friends with your industry knowledge!  

1. Macro Brewery

Even though you might not drink it, it&#;s worth knowing what exactly defines a &#;macro brewery.&#; You can probably already pinpoint major macro beer brands because of their bulk availability in grocery stores, and their focus on &#;light&#; styles. Many of them are owned by the same large companies. They make more than 6 million barrels of beer a year and are often publicly traded. Macro brewers also tend to have multiple brewing or &#;production&#; plants across the country to meet their quantity needs. As you probably already know, a macro brewery is not craft beer. 

Link to YME

2. Regional Brewery

Many larger craft brewers, like California&#;s The Bruery and Louisiana&#;s Parish Brewing are referred to as &#;regional breweries&#; because of their widespread recognition. Their operations are often spread out too, with multiple taprooms and brew houses. However, most regional breweries are still very much considered craft beer because their annual beer production usually falls between 15,000 and 6 million barrels a year. The only exceptions are if they are not independently owned. 

Interestingly, Ballast Point was considered craft beer until their sale to Constellation Brands in . Their sale to the small Kings & Convicts Brewing last year returned their former status, and they are now considered a craft beer regional brewery. 

3. Microbrewery

At no more than 15,000 barrels of beer annually, the vast majority of microbreweries automatically fall under the craft beer umbrella. In fact, the term &#;micro&#; has become synonymous with craft beer in many circles. Again, the exceptions to this are rare cases when ownership is not independent. 

Though not as expansive as regional breweries, microbreweries often build up major followings. Located in Glenwood Springs, CO, Casey Brewing & Blending is considered a destination brewery for craft fans trekking through the Rocky Mountains. Likewise, Side Project Brewing put St. Louis, MO craft beer on the map and continues to be one of the most recognized breweries in the U.S. 

4. Brewpub

A brewpub is a hybrid between a restaurant and a brewery, selling 25% or more of its beer on premise. The brewpub&#;s focus is primarily on its beer menu, often allowing customers a look into the brewing space via large windows or an open floor setup. That said, the food menu is typically substantial, offering more than just snacks or small plates. 

Brewpubs are not always craft beer. Even if the sales percentage requirement is met, some brewpubs are still owned by non-craft beer entities. That said, Illinois&#; More Brewing and Oregon&#;s Great Notion Brewing are two examples of craft brewpubs whose beer has caught the attention of drinkers far beyond their local communities. 

5. Nanobrewery&#;

While it is known that a nanobrewery makes less beer than a microbrewery, there is no quantity limit in place. Interestingly, there is a New Hampshire law that says a nanobrewery makes 2,000 barrels or fewer a year, but that&#;s just there. Either way, most nanobreweries have only one location that is both taproom and brewing space (and they may not even have a taproom). Additionally, their brewing system is usually limited to just 3 to 10 barrels.

Technically, a nanobrewery could be considered non-craft if it is owned by a macro or other non-craft organization. However, the vast majority of them are privately owned and run by just a small handful of people. Despite their small size, nanobrewers like Virginia&#;s Adroit Theory Brewing and Minnesota&#;s Junkyard Brewing have cult-like followings with fans that drive for hours out to their taprooms to stock up. 

6. Pico Brewery

Don&#;t worry if you&#;ve never heard of a &#;pico brewery&#; before &#; there aren&#;t many of them!  Soquel Fermentation Project in Los Gatos, CA is an example of the rare pico, a brewery so unbelievably tiny, it&#;s considered a separate concept than the nanobrewery. A pico is typically run by just a few people (if that), and operates on a mere 1 to 3-barrel brewing system. Their releases are almost always limited runs and can&#;t be found easily. Due to their small size and focus on unique batches, we&#;ve yet to come across a pico brewery that isn&#;t considered craft beer! 

No matter what kind of brewery they come from, the daily selections you see on Tavour are always independent craft beer! 

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Wikipedia: Brewery

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