“Craft beer is too expensive, too intense, too complicated.” If you’ve thought this too, there’s no need to convince you that every craft beer is better. What matters is finding one you like and understanding when it’s worth buying. Craft beer: how to choose without prejudice.
Johnny Garrett of the Craft Beer Channel, speaking at the Brewers Congress, invited the industry not to define itself solely in opposition to large producers. For drinkers, independence and size aren’t enough to explain what they’ll find in the glass. What matters is the taste, the producers’ choices, and their ability to explain them without making anyone feel excluded.
Maltese selects beers from different breweries. To choose your next one, let’s start with what you’re looking for.
“They’re all bitter and strong”: choose according to your taste
Craft doesn’t necessarily mean extreme. For a fresh, clean drink, discover craft Lager beers. If you prefer softness and often spicy or citrusy aromas, look at Blanche, Weisse and Weizen.
If you’re looking instead for hop aromas, compare IPA and APA. They don’t all have the same intensity: read each beer’s description before buying.
Why buy it? To find a beer suited to your tastes, not to prove you’re an expert. If you enjoy light beers, a Lager is a more sensible starting point than the most intense IPA.
“It costs too much”: consider what you’re buying
Price alone doesn’t tell you whether you’ll like a beer. Compare the format, style, ABV, and aroma description. Also think about the occasion: are you looking for something for a casual evening, a dinner, or a more attentive tasting?
Spending more makes sense when the beer’s characteristics are what you’re looking for, not simply because the label says “craft”. If you want to explore more styles, take a look at the selection for craft beer tasting. You’ll find updated prices, formats, and availability in the product listings.
“It’s a world for a few”: three questions to get started
Do you prefer a clean or aromatic taste? Do you like bitterness? Are you looking for a beer to pair with food or to savor slowly?
Answers are more useful than a debate about who is “truly” craft. Independence can matter, but production choices deserve to be explained with facts, not turned into a barrier for those approaching beer.
Find the right first beer for you
Do you prefer a more familiar profile? Start with Lager. Looking for freshness and a different character? Explore wheat beers. Do you want to discover hops? Compare IPA and APA.
Choose according to your tastes. Curiosity is a better reason to try something new than any war between labels.
