Shelisch explained that craft beer is more likely an advertising image to attract consumers.
“Craft beer as a concept has never been enshrined in law. This is a popular, colloquial concept, although it is actively used in advertising. Craft beer is perceived as more attractive, as a kind of artisanal product in relation to mass production, ”the expert recalled.
He emphasized the compliance of craft beer with the established technical requirements for beer products.
“There can be no prohibitions on the production of what is called craft beer in principle, because the main thing is that this product meets the definition of beer that is given in the technical regulation ... Craft beer is regulated as beer if it contains more than 20 % of something other than beer malt, it will not be beer, ”Shelish said.
The specialist, however, did not rule out the possibility of banning those drinks that, according to their technical parameters, do not meet the requirements for beer products, which can be called craft beer.
Earlier, Rosstandart said that the production of craft beer in Russia could stop when the new regulation of the Eurasian Economic Union on the safety of alcoholic beverages came into force in 2021.
In addition, the department noted that, according to current GOSTs, Russia provides for the production of wheat, light and dark beer, but the introduction of a single standard for the production of craft beer is not planned.
As pointed out in Rosstandart, "given the different approaches to the manufacture of craft beer, a common GOST cannot be developed for this product, since the products have different technologies and different formulations, as well as different ingredients and components, different tastes and different colors."