Chapter 1: Introduction: Researching Craft Beer

Beer plays an important role in society and the lives of many. It is something which people produce, package, sell, transport and gather around to share, tell stories, celebrate, and commiserate. As people have been brewing since at least 3000 bc, beer is one of the oldest drinks known to wo/man. Civilisation has grown around beer and to this day, in many cultures around the world, beer is still drunk on a daily basis and used to mark births, anniversaries, and deaths, amongst many other life transitions. Beermaking takes place in certain locales and via certain methods, and it also makes place; breweries often being central to the communities in which they are based.