Craft beer vs. commercial beer: taste the difference

KRIS STIVERS
THE SIGNAL

I know beer. As a self-proclaimed beer connoisseur, I have tasted numerous brews from around the world.

I have been immortalized in the Ring of Honor at the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium (you can see my golden plate on the wall, just above the ladies room).

I have waited in lines for hours at a time to snag hard-to-find, limited-release beers. On one of my many beer-hunting adventures, I even had my picture taken for the Houston Chronicle’s “Beer, TX” blog.

I know beer, but it wasn’t always that way. In my early beer-drinking days, I admit that I “tapped the Rockies” once or twice. I was known to hang out with “The King of Beers” here and there. And yes, on occasion it was even “Miller time.”

As I grew older and wiser, my palate developed and I began yearning for something greater. That was when a good friend introduced me to the wonderful world of craft beer.

There are three characteristics that define what craft beer is.

First is size. A craft brewery cannot produce more than 6 million barrels of beer annually (previously only 2 million barrels). In comparison, commercial breweries like Anheuser-Busch produce around 125million barrels every year.

Secondly, it must be independently owned. No more than 25 percent of a brewery can be owned or controlled by a non-craft brewer.

Last but not least, and in my opinion the most important factor, a craft brewery must adhere to traditional brewing methods.

Traditionally speaking, there are four main ingredients that make up beer: water, yeast, malt (typically from barley) and hops. Commercial breweries have been known to substitute ingredients such as rice and corn to cut back on production costs.

While these commercial breweries see increased profits, they are sacrificing where it really counts: taste. Craft brewers, on the  other hand, spend a lot of time focusing on the quality and flavor of their beers. In addition to some pretty awesome ingredients, they put their heart and soul into each and every batch.

There are several things that set craft beer apart from commercial beer.

Most commercial breweries give you two choices: original or light. Craft brewers produce a number of styles and varieties. They are not just brewing your everyday run-of-the-mill beer. They are constantly innovating and putting new spins on traditional styles.

Barrel aging seems to be a popular trend among craft brewers lately. Many of my favorite breweries are now aging their beers in everything from wine barrels to bourbon barrels. This has led to some very interesting concoctions.

On average, a typical craft beer contains 6 to 10 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). In my time as a craft beer drinker, I have even tried a beer that was 27 percent ABV (Sam Adams Utopias). Craft beers can definitely pack a punch. Commercial beers, on the other hand, tend to hover around 3 to 5 percent ABV and taste watered-down in comparison.

To some this may seem like a bit of a stretch, but numerous studies have concluded that craft beer, when consumed in moderation, actually has certain health  benefits (even more so than red wine). It certainly has more nutritional value than commercial beer, which has been stripped of the good stuff (including flavor).

I could go on and on about the perks of craft beer, but for me personally, one of the biggest has been the friends I have made along the way. I think the late, great Hunter S. Thompson said it best, “Good people drink good beer.” From home brewers to enthusiasts such as myself, the craft beer community is definitely a passionate bunch.

So if reading this has inspired you to try a tasty craft beer (and I hope it has), the Bayou City is full of excellent craft beer spots. It  seems like a new one pops up every day.

While you’re at it, be sure to visit to your local breweries. Most of them offer tastings and tours. Two of my personal favorites, Saint Arnold and Karbach, are open at various times throughout the week and on Saturdays.

What are you waiting for? Get down to your local watering hole and ask to see their craft beer selection. Nobi Public House, which is not too far from UHCL, is a great place to start. And please remember to drink responsibly.

For a list of my favorite Houston craft beers, check out Kris’ Favorite Craft Beers From The Greater Houston Area.