Craft beer revived one of the world's oldest industries when it arrived on British shores from the US two decades ago. Micro-breweries sprouted across the UK, with some growing into big name brands like Brewdog, Beavertown and Camden that are widely stocked at convenience stores and supermarkets.
From a handful of labels sold in specialist shops 20 years ago, the craft industry has flourished by offering increased choice and quality, with a huge range of taste profiles. Latest statistics from retail analysts NIQ showed that the UK craft beer industry has grown by nearly 20% in the past four years - in a market now worth £368million a year.
This has spurred retail giant Tesco to build up a range of more than 60 craft beers in total across its estate, with many of its larger stores having up to 40 different brews. Its range includes at least 10 different styles that will be on shelves for summer events - including the men's football World Cup being hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
This now include IPAs, Double IPAs, Hazy/New England IPAs, West Coast IPAs, Imperial Stouts, Session IPAs, Sours, Craft Lager and Pale Ales.
And it is independent breweries innovating new flavour profiles largely driving interest with demand for their beers growing by 15% faster than the total category in data released last month (APR).
Christian Clark, Tesco Craft Beer buyer, said: "UK beer fans have never had it so good in terms of choice and we have certainly come a very long way from the days just 20 years ago when basically all there was available was either lager, ale or stout.
"Craft beer has diversified into a multitude of punchy, highly flavoursome, thirst-quenching styles and highly imaginative independent brewers are really driving the movement with a 'sky's the limit' type attitude."
He added: "There are outstanding brews being created on a daily basis across the UK with a large variety of style profiles to suit every taste - from sours, sweet and even roasty and bitter tasting stouts, smoothie style fruit beers, and crisp, hoppy IPAs."
Retail figures have recently shown the fastest rise in sales for stouts and fruit beers, which have been seen as appealing to different customers than traditional ale or lager drinkers.
Christian added: "Craft beer is about discovery and flavour, so has a real wow factor."
And he said the expanded ranges at supermarkets are not competing with licensed premises hoping to have a busy summer with the World Cup, adding "the 'at home occasion' is very different from the that provided by pubs".
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