Brewers Association Defines "Quality Beer"

Discussion in 'Beer News' started by Todd, Jan 30, 2015.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 5
  1. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    From: http://www.brewersassociation.org/i...-sets-vision-mission-definition-quality-beer/

    ---
    The Brewers Association (BA) quality subcommittee has introduced a definition of quality beer, along with a vision and mission, which aim to guide this group’s important work. These foundational documents are designed to guide and inform their discussions and decisions as the subcommittee develops tools and resources to assist craft brewers’ dedication to brewing quality beer.

    The quality subcommittee is proud to introduce the following foundational statements.

    Quality Subcommittee Vision
    Our vision is a membership that consistently produces beer of high quality.

    What is Quality Beer?
    A beer that is responsibly produced using wholesome ingredients, consistent brewing techniques and good manufacturing practices, which exhibits flavor characteristics that are consistently aligned with both the brewer’s and beer drinker’s expectations

    Quality Subcommittee Mission
    We seek to continue the advancement of quality within the craft brewing community through:
    • Fostering a sense of shared responsibility in all breweries for the importance of quality in craft beer
    • Motivating all BA members to invest in issues that improve and maintain quality, without compromising their focus on creativity and flavor
    • Educating all BA members about existing quality resources and best practices for ingredient selection, process control and analysis
    • Facilitating access to affordable analysis and promote the development of simple, cost effective quality methods
    “As our industry continues to experience rapid growth, it is critical that we understand the potential risks to quality and have procedures in place to control them,” said quality subcommittee chair Jason Perkins of Allagash Brewing Company. “It is the responsibility of every brewer to create a beer that meets consumer expectations in a safe, traceable and repeatable manner.”

    “The phenomenal growth of the craft industry was built on quality beer. Breweries must be able to produce consistently good beer in order to thrive,” added BA technical committee co-chair Ken Grossman of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. “The BA quality subcommittee will develop a number of resources and programs to help brewers of every size produce high quality beer that meets their beer drinkers’ expectations.”

    Background
    The BA technical committee formed the quality subcommittee in the fall of 2014 to conceptualize and facilitate the continual pursuit of beer quality for craft brewers. The technical committee selected a diverse group of brewing professionals to take on the task of supporting and advocating for quality. The purpose of the group is to provide a framework for quality to craft brewers and to provide guidance to achieve the vision of a membership that consistently produces beer of high quality.
    ---
     
    #1 Todd, Jan 30, 2015
  2. RobinLee

    RobinLee Maven (1,423) Feb 15, 2012 Wisconsin

    So is this laying the foundations for a tiered system in which "Craft Beer" has a bbl/year limit, and any others that are above that fall into the "Quality Beer" designation? Or will this supplant/complement the definition of craft beer? An interesting announcement for sure.
     
    #2 RobinLee, Jan 30, 2015
  3. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,077) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    I don't really understand how prescriptive all of this is getting. Does the BA truly think that all members have to do is follow such guidelines and then they will somehow produce "quality beer"? Will offenders be kicked out of the BA? And who is supposed to decide all of this? Very odd in (and exceedingly vague) its current incarnation....
     
    #3 herrburgess, Jan 30, 2015
    BrettHead, paulys55, LambicPentameter and 4 others like this.
  4. mudbug

    mudbug Pooh-Bah (1,762) Mar 27, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    Nothing like taking a generic term and adding layers of complexity to it until nobody really know what it means anymore. Bah.
     
    #4 mudbug, Jan 30, 2015
    gibgink, ArkansasTraveller, azorie and 11 others like this.
  5. wspscott

    wspscott Pooh-Bah (1,958) May 25, 2006 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    Sometimes I wish the Brewers Association would just shut the fuck up. The last thing that is needed is another stupid definition to go along with "craft" and then to go with "quality". How many "craft" breweries are actually making "quality" beer? I would guess half at best.
     
    #5 wspscott, Jan 30, 2015
    WesMantooth, mwa423, ArkansasTraveller and 16 others like this.
  6. buymorebeer

    buymorebeer Initiate (0) Aug 17, 2014 North Carolina

    Good, maybe this will help sink some of the crap beer that's being put out by a lot of "craft" brewers.
     
    #6 buymorebeer, Jan 30, 2015
    mwa423 and LuskusDelph like this.
  7. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    I suspect it is in response to concerns over quality in the craft beer industry that has been raised by a couple of highly regarded brewers.

    I like their definition of quality in that in emphasizes meeting customer expectations with consistency and repeatability. I also like their goal of providing quality control tools to brewers of all sizes. Good start, IMO.
     
    #7 MNAle, Jan 30, 2015
    dennis3951, tkdchampxi, RobinLee and 1 other person like this.
  8. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    No mention of IBUs, though :wink:.
     
    #8 TongoRad, Jan 30, 2015
    dennis3951, Sludgeman, offthelevel_bytheplumb and 3 others like this.
  9. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,077) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    That's next: they're calling it the Pine-heitsgebot.
     
    #9 herrburgess, Jan 30, 2015
    BodiesLexus, gibgink, mwa423 and 16 others like this.
  10. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    LOL! :slight_smile:
     
    #10 MNAle, Jan 30, 2015
  11. busternuggz

    busternuggz Initiate (0) Mar 9, 2008 California

    What is Quality Beer?
    A beer that is responsibly produced using wholesome ingredients, consistent brewing techniques and good manufacturing practices, which exhibits flavor characteristics that are consistently aligned with both the brewer’s and beer drinker’s expectations


    Ok, now let's define "responsibly", "wholesome", "good", and what "flavor characteristics" brewers and drinkers expect.
     
    #11 busternuggz, Jan 30, 2015
    azorie, LambicPentameter, Ranbot and 7 others like this.
  12. ArsMoriendiOU818

    ArsMoriendiOU818 Pooh-Bah (1,632) Nov 5, 2013 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah

    Seriously. This is actually the first part I read, because yeah, how does one objectively define quality beer? Certainly not with these descriptors, which would need to be defined themselves but are pretty much subjective words by nature. Whatever relevance the B.A. once had is fading fast.
     
    #12 ArsMoriendiOU818, Jan 30, 2015
    LuskusDelph, Foyle and tkdchampxi like this.
  13. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    Speaking to that one, that would vary with the beer style, wouldn't it? Do you expect them to repeat in glorious detail all of the flavor characteristics of the entire craft beer industry in a definition of quality?
     
    #13 MNAle, Jan 30, 2015
  14. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    “What is Quality Beer?
    A beer that is responsibly produced using wholesome ingredients, consistent brewing techniques and good manufacturing practices, which exhibits flavor characteristics that are consistently aligned with both the brewer’s and beer drinker’s expectations.”

    Permit me to ask: what in the above would mean that a beer like Budweiser is not a quality beer?

    Is the purpose of the Brewers Association to promote beers like Budweiser?

    I am thoroughly confused.:confused:

    Cheers!
     
    #14 JackHorzempa, Jan 30, 2015
    Smakawhat, offthelevel_bytheplumb, Lucular and 2 others like this.
  15. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm sure one of those words was thrown in there to exclude Budweiser and the like- perhaps 'responsibly' (to reflect some of the parent company's business practices?).

    But you are right, it could meet the definition from a certain perspective.
     
    #15 TongoRad, Jan 30, 2015
  16. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    So, you stated "could". Is there something in that statement which is not consistent with "would"?

    Cheers!
     
    #16 JackHorzempa, Jan 30, 2015
  17. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think it might take some more clarification from the BA, especially what they mean by words like 'responsibly', like I stated above. For all I know, their opinion could be that Budweiser is a Quality beer, but not a Craft beer.

    It's pretty obvious that they think that too many craft beers aren't quality beers. I also think it's great that they will be providing the resources to improve the situation.
     
    #17 TongoRad, Jan 30, 2015
    JackHorzempa likes this.
  18. mattbk

    mattbk Savant (1,111) Dec 12, 2011 New York

    This is the BA trying to bring together the two differing views that quality beer is both enjoyable and also made repeatably. The aim, I believe, will be to provide guidelines to breweries producing inconsistent, or perhaps consistently poor beer. Maybe it works and maybe it doesn't? Either way, I see no issues with it whatsoever.
     
    #18 mattbk, Jan 30, 2015
  19. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    “I also think it's great that they will be providing the resources to improve the situation.”

    In principle I agree but I have difficulty seeing how this mission statement is achieving that goal.

    Cheers!
     
    #19 JackHorzempa, Jan 30, 2015
  20. yemenmocha

    yemenmocha Grand Pooh-Bah (4,116) Jun 18, 2002 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah

    agree with @busternuggz now we can start debating what "wholesome ingredients" are
     
    #20 yemenmocha, Jan 30, 2015
Page 1 of 5
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.