United States
Large brewers begin acquiring craft breweries
A sustained wave of acquisitions moved well-known craft breweries into multinational ownership, sharpening the argument about what "craft" means.
2011–2020
Why it matters
Exposed that every definition of craft rests on ownership and scale rather than on the beer, which is why BeerHQ organises by style and process instead.
How well this is established
| Certainty | Documented. Supported by contemporary records that survive and are agreed on. |
|---|---|
| When | 2011–2020. Recorded as a period rather than a date because it happened over time. |
| Where | United States |
Traditions
- American craft brewing — The post-1980 American movement built on intense hop character, reinterpretation of European styles, and rapid categorical change.
Either side of this
← 2011: The wild parent of lager yeast is identified
See the whole sequence on the beer history timeline.
Last reviewed 2026-08-16.