About Us

We are a group of people that believe in America's Craft Brewers. We want to support the American owned and made Craft Brewers. We love the "TRUE" Craft Brewers and how they are determined to share their beers and their stories. The American Craft Brewers are typically a family or individual that started their breweries in tiny garages, kitchens, or any other place they could brew. They are passionate about their beer, and on a quest to produce the highest quality of beer.

The American Craft Brewer has overcome many obstacles. At Nebraska Craft Beer, we strive to do our part in Nebraska by voicing the passion of America's Craft Beers. When we are not sampling American Craft Beers, we will sample and promote fine "craft" import beers. Many of these types of beers are the foundation and renaissance of todays American Craft Beers.

To all of the fine brewers, we salute and thank you.

For years, the Brewers Association has been fighting to differentiate big-brewer owned craft from the small and independent producers that meet their definition criteria.

Four and a half years ago, the BA launched the "craft vs. crafty" campaign to try and bring attention to multinational brands "masquerading" as craft.

Now they have something a little more concrete.

The project has been in the works for more than a year. Boulder-based Sterling-Rice Group designed the seals.

There's a lot of legalities involved. But breweries can rest assured: "We've been in touch with the TTB: new COLAs will not be needed for new breweries who want to put the seal on their packaging," said BA president Bob Pease.

"We're looking to differentiate, but not denigrate," Bob told CBD. "Our mission is to promote and protect small and independent craft brewers." They want to make it easy for consumers who want to support independent brewers to do so.

And they're not just sending the seals to BA members, but to every small and indy craft brewer.

"The first phase for us is pushing it to all the 5,400 breweries, getting them to adopt it," said Bob. "From there, we'll reach out and get this into the beerdrinker universe." Phase 2 will involve outreach to retailers and distributors.

There's no charge for the seal, but there is an agreement to sign for its use. "When a brewery gets the e-mail today, they'll need to read and sign the licensing agreement," which governs use of BA's intellectual property. Once they do that, "they can download the art files and have it up on their website today."

One guideline: There are minimum size guidelines for the seal's use. "We want it to be legible," says Bob.

They're also sending every eligible brewery a package with some stickers and window-ready logo.

"Eventually we hope it works its way onto menus, bars, etc."

Bob thinks the applications are many.

"We certainly hope breweries put it on their packaging," he says, but some may not be ready to reorder costly packaging materials for months.

In the interim, "people can put them on their websites, e-mails, festival banners, wearables, tattoo their children with it..."

So What Is A Craft Brewer?

A craft brewer is any brewery that brews 'craft beers' right? It's not exactly that simple.

The Craft Brewers Association defines a Craft Brewer as a small, independant, and traditional brewer.

Small is defined as a brewer with an annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition.

Independent is defined as a brewer with less than 25% of the craft brewery being owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member, who is not themselves a craft brewer.

Traditional is defined as a brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance, rather than lighten flavor.

So basically, Craft Brewers and small with the hallmark of their brewery being innovation.They incorporate historic styles with unique twists and develop new styles that have no precedent. They produce beers withtraditional ingredients like malted barley; interesting and sometimes non-traditional ingredients are often added for distinctiveness. Like coriander, chocolate, or juniper berries.

Craft brewers tend to be very involved in their communities through philanthropy, product donations, volunteerism, and sponsorship of events and have a distinctive, individualistic approach to connecting with their customers. They maintain integrity by what they brew and their general independence, which is free from interest by a non-craft brewers like Mega-Wall Street & Foreign owned breweries.

The majority of Americans actually live within 10 miles of a craft brewer! Who knew?!

This website is not intended for people under the age of 21. If you are under this age, please close the website. Nebraska Craft Beer does NOT support underage drinking, or purchasing for minors

This website is not intended for people under the age of 21. If you are under this age, please close the website. Nebraska Craft Beer does NOT support underage drinking, or purchasing for minors.

Nebraska Craft Beer
Omaha, Nebraska

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Drinking in moderation, and having a designated driver is the only way to enjoy the world of American Craft & Import beers.

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