UK market outlined as ‘super important’ to US craft beer sector

American craft breweries are looking for greater presence in the UK, naming it as an export market that is hugely “important” to crack.

Speaking at an event in London this week, the US Embassy noted how crucial it was that the Brewers Association continued to showcase a range of America’s best craft beers to a British audience.

Highlighting the opportunities, Anita Katial, agricultural counsellor at the US Embassy said: “The Brewers Association is super important to the US Department of Agriculture to US agriculture itself. We’ve been partnering with them since 2014. It’s an opportunity to partner and showcase American craft brews around the world, particularly in the United Kingdom.”

Katial explained: “The United Kingdom is one of the most important markets to the United States in terms of craft breweries, and craft beer exports.”

Speaking to db, DC Brau Brewing Company head brewer Alex Spencer revealed that US craft breweries want to see their beers breaking through to more UK food and drinks venues and piquing the interest of buyers.” Spencer insisted: “We want to see more of our beers in the UK. The more beers we have available in Britain, the better.”

Spencer hinted that he would be speaking to buyers this week during his visit to London and noted that craft beer distributor Cave Direct was one he already had on his radar.

Amplifying how fundamental is was that the US craft beer industry works well with Britain, Katial stated that it is “the second largest market in the world, next to Canada” and added: ”It is super important”.

Brewers Association American craft beer ambassador for Europe Lotte Peplow who was hosting the gathering echoed the US Embassy’s view on the market’s importance and additionally pointed out that beer drinkers’ enthusiasm and appreciation for American craft beers has grown since the nineties.

Peplow told db: “The UK is an important export market for American craft beer and the biggest in Europe. The UK beer drinker has been appreciating the quality, innovation and style-diversity of America’s small and independent craft beers since they first became available in the UK back in the 1990s. Despite headwinds over the last few years (the pandemic and disruption to international shipping being good examples), the UK beer drinker continues to seek out and demand American craft beer. As long as that demand continues to grow and American craft brewers continue to innovate and astound, there will always be a place for American craft beer in the UK”