Wave Two: The Craft Beer Revolution

Then came BrewDog.

Whatever you think of them, BrewDog proved that beer could be exciting, rebellious, and profitable. Their success — the crowdfunding rounds, the explosive growth, the punk branding — inspired a second wave of brewery openings. This time it wasn't just real ale. It was IPAs, sours, pastry stouts, hazy pales, and everything in between.

Many of us — myself included — got into this after tasting how good all-grain homebrew could be. You brew a batch at home, your mates tell you it's brilliant, and the thought creeps in: "I could sell this." It's a seductive idea. It's also the same idea thousands of other people were having at the same time.

By the mid-2010s, new breweries were opening at an extraordinary rate. The UK went from around 700 breweries in 2010 to well over 2,000 by the end of the decade. The market didn't grow anywhere near as fast as the number of breweries supplying it.