What Makes a Good Craft Beer?

August 08, 2025

If you, like all of us here, are the type of person who adores a great beer, then you likely want to know how to pick out a great craft beer.

There’s been a surge in the craft beer movement over recent years, with independent breweries taking great care over every single aspect of the process - from ingredient selection to final carbonation.

Within this world, there is a seemingly infinite list of choices between different types of beer: from sour beers to hoppy pale ales, the craft beer world is huge. How can you choose between them?

Well, in this article, we’re going to run through what makes craft beer what it is before breaking down some essential notes about how to make sure a craft beer is right for you.

And don't forget we offer a range of amazing craft beer hampers, especially for those lovers of great-tasting beers!

What is a Great Craft Beer?

As we mentioned above, craft beers are usually made by small companies that pour their hearts and souls into the brewing process. This means that traditional methods used for mass-produced beers, craft beers have much more distinct style and generally shoot a little higher than a typical can from the supermarket.

Many different beers fall under the craft beer category, from IPAs to India pale ales to fruited sours, and from stone fruit porters to easy-drinking lagers. In a nutshell, there are craft beers available to suit all tastes and budgets.

How to Choose Craft Beer?

Choosing a craft beer is quite a personal thing. Along this list, we mention a few great ideas for seeking out a craft beer from a pre-ordained list of breweries, but you should always consider your tastes, too.

Remember this: when drinking anything at all, as long as you enjoy what’s in the glass, very little else matters.

A lot of the advice in this list does involve taking a close look at the can or bottle that a certain beer is in. That’s great advice: looking at the tasting notes and flavors on a can or bottle will allow you to learn a whole host of information about the beer inside.

Before you know it, you’ll have favourite hops and breweries that you’d wear a sandwich board for!

Seek out Independent Breweries

Seeking out smaller, indie brewers can be a great way to find unique approaches. While you might be tempted to opt for well-known brewers, these do not always offer the best beers. Instead, seek out independent brewers that use locally sourced ingredients. The main difference between the two is simple: passion.

A small brewery is passionate about the beer they’re making, and they’re typically doing what they do for the love of it. A commercial brewing company usually brews for profit, first and foremost. Profit generally isn’t a way to make exceptional beer.

If you are lucky enough to live near a small brewery, why not pop in and visit them? Take a tour of their facilities, meet the makers, and even enjoy some complimentary samples. There are breweries in a number of UK cities, all across the country. There are many in London, so you could perhaps visit two or three in a day!

Look for innovative experiments

One of the best things about craft beers is that there are so many different flavor combinations to try. Local breweries use traditional brewing methods but put their own spin on their beverages by experimenting with less common flavor pairings and styles.

Trying something unique is always a gamble, but you could come away with a new favorite beer!

This innovation is a great way to gauge passion - only a brewer passionate about what they’re making will be excited by the prospect of new and innovative techniques and ingredients.

Check out breweries’ backstories 

Generally, craft breweries come with a unique backstory that helps to set them apart from their competitors. This is particularly true when it comes to artisan brewers - Northern Monk (a Leeds-based brewery) tells the tale of their founding thanks to a £5,000 gift from a grandparent on every can.

The more unique the story, the more likely you will experience a unique and special brew. People with unique lives have sampled lots of different flavours. This often means that they can bring these unique flavours and ideas to their work, resulting in delightful beer for you.

Try as many as you can 

There are hundreds of craft beers available at the very least, so if you want to find a great one, you are going to have to try as many as you can! Generally, you can tell within the first few sips what your overall opinion of a beer will be. Trust your gut, and move on if you don’t like something. With that said, though, you must also give each beer a fair try.

Pay attention to the undertones of each beer, as many craft varieties will carry a distinct nutty or fruity taste. This can come from additives, such as a fruited sour that boasts a potent mango flavour (because there’s mango in it), or a subtle flavour, such as a pleasant acidity from IPA-focused hops, like Citra or Mosaic.

Don’t choose the most expensive option on offer

While craft beers are typically more expensive than other types of beer, you don’t need to break the bank to enjoy a great craft beer. The thing that you must bear in mind is that cost and flavour don’t go hand in hand. If you adore the cheapest beer in a supermarket, then that’s your drink! If you adore a £6 per pint beer, then that’s your drink!

What we’re getting at is simple: don’t be fooled by marketing, pretty labels, or interesting bottles. The beer inside is what’s important, so give a fair few a fair go, and you’ll come out with some interesting new taste experiences.

Types of Craft Beer

India Pale Ale (IPA)

India Pale Ales, also known as IPA, are the cornerstone of modern craft beer. They are known for their bold hop character and wide range of bitterness levels. They were originally developed in England, but they often feature American hops like Citra or Mosaic.

Popular substyles include the hazy, juicy New England IPA (NEIPA), which has a soft mouthfeel and low bitterness, and the aggressive West Coast IPA, which is dry and crisp with a sharp hop bite.

Pale Ale

Pale Ales are more approachable and well-balanced beers; they offer the bitterness of hops with a malty backbone. They are lighter in both alcohol content and bitterness compared to IPAs, and are often more floral or citrusy.

The American Pale Ale (APA) is a widely enjoyed version that balances hop forwardness with drinkability.

Imperial Stout

Imperial Stout is a powerful, dark beer that has a rich flavour of chocolate, roasted coffee, and dark fruit.

Originally brewed in England for export to Russia, these stouts are high in alcohol, often ranging from 8% to 12% ABV. Many modern versions are barrel-aged or infused with adjuncts like vanilla, chili, or coconut, enhancing their complexity and dessert-like appeal.

Porter

Porters are dark ales that are smoother and lighter in body than stouts, but still feature roasted malt flavours. Originating in 18th-century London, porters often showcase notes of chocolate, toffee, caramel, and mild coffee, with a medium body and moderate alcohol content.

Sour Ale

Sour ales are intentionally tart or acidic, with a flavour profile that ranges from lemony and bright to funky and wild. Made using wild yeast strains like Brettanomyces or lactic acid bacteria, they often undergo spontaneous or mixed fermentation.

So, are you ready to try some spectacular craft beer? At The Awesome Hamper Company, we have an extensive range of gift hampers, sharing the brightest breweries out there with you. Pick up a tasty treat today, we’re confident you’ll love it!

Also in News