Who really owns your favourite "craft" beer?
An independent brewery is one that isn't owned, in whole or in part, by one of the large multinational brewing groups, Heineken, AB InBev, Asahi and similar. It sounds like a simple line to draw, but several breweries people still think of as "craft" or independent, Beavertown, Camden, Fullers among them, now sit inside exactly those groups. That's not a knock on the beer, it's a reason the label is worth checking rather than assuming.
Why this happens
Independent breweries that grow fast become attractive acquisition targets for the multinational brewing groups, who get instant credibility with drinkers who want to buy indie. The beer on the shelf often doesn't change much after a sale. The ownership, and where the money actually goes, does.
How big is this, really?
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, laid out the scale of it in Beer in the UK, its 2026 consumer report. UK breweries now produce roughly two thirds of what they did in 1980, and four foreign-owned corporations make around 80% of what's left. There are still about 1,600 small independent breweries in the UK, but between them they hold only 7% of the market, squeezed out by pub contracts, line deals and supermarket listings tied to the big four. CAMRA's own research puts consumer demand for indie beer at closer to 20%, nearly three times what independents are actually allowed to supply. It's a big enough gap that CAMRA is now calling on the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate the UK beer market.
It's not just craft beer
The same report points out that plenty of "imported" lagers aren't imported at all. Stella Artois sold in the UK is brewed in Magor, South Wales, by AB InBev. Birra Moretti is brewed in Manchester by Heineken. Kronenbourg 1664 is brewed in Northampton by Carlsberg. None of that is illegal or even unusual, brewing under licence close to where it's sold is normal practice, but it's the same pattern as the craft beer question: the story on the label and the reality of who makes it and who profits are often two different things.
How to actually check
There's no single obvious label on the can. The most reliable signal right now is SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates, whose Indie Beer campaign exists specifically to help drinkers tell which breweries are genuinely independent. If a brewery carries the Indie Beer mark, it's been verified. If you're not sure about one, use the campaign's own Brewery Checker tool, not the label art. CAMRA's Beer in the UK report is worth a read too, if you want the full picture rather than just a checklist.
Why it matters more than it used to
People are drinking less overall and spending more on quality when they do, choosing fewer, better things rather than working through a big multipack. If the reason you're paying more for a beer is the story behind it, who brewed it and who benefits, it's worth knowing whether that story is still true.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beavertown still independent? No. Beavertown sold a minority stake to Heineken in 2018, then Heineken took full control in 2022.
Is Camden Town Brewery independent? No. Camden Town Brewery has been part of AB InBev since 2015.
What does "independent brewery" actually mean? No ownership stake from a multinational brewing group, not just a small-batch look or an indie-sounding name.
How can I tell if a brewery is genuinely independent? Check whether it carries the Indie Beer mark, use SIBA's Brewery Checker tool directly, or read CAMRA's Beer in the UK report for the wider picture.
Why is CAMRA calling for a beer market investigation? CAMRA argues that four multinational corporations control most of UK brewing and much of the pub supply chain, leaving independent breweries locked out despite strong consumer demand for indie beer. It's asked the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate.
Every brewery in a Brewser box is independent, checked, not assumed. See this month's breweries, or start a subscription from £29 with free UK delivery.
