Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a dramatic fall in the sale of beer by UK manufacturers in the years after the 2008 recession, with sales only just beginning to creep upwards in the last two years.

Despite the post-recession fall, beer has remained a mainstay in the top ten products sold by UK manufacturers, ranking eighth in 2014 with sales worth £3.4 billion. The ONS speculates that the slow but steady rise in sales in the last two years may have been supported by the UK craft beer industry, based on reporting by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) that 170 new breweries have started up in the last year alone.

However, the success of one local brewery suggests that the craft beer industry has been performing well for many years, and that it is only now that people are starting to notice.

The Chiltern Brewery is a family business and one of the longest running micro breweries in the UK. Tom Jenkinson, Head Brewer at The Chiltern Brewery gives his take on the past, present and future of the craft beer industry.

“It has been amazing to see the changes in the craft beer industry in the last five to ten years,” says Tom. “Not long ago people were asking how we would be able to attract the younger generation to craft beer, it certainly wasn’t seen as a domain for the young. Now there are specialist bars popping up everywhere and instead of the homogenous national brands, craft beer from a micro brewery is the drink of choice for young people.”

What about the statistics that showed a decline in the sales value of beer in the years after the 2008 recession? “That fall is the hit that the large beer companies experienced, not the micro brewers which only account for a very small percentage of all the beer sold in the UK.

“At The Chiltern Brewery we’ve had year on year expansion for at least 15 years and last year was our busiest ever.”

Tom stresses that The Chiltern Brewery does not measure success by its geographical reach or chase it at the expense of its core customers, there are standards to be met. “While the amount of beer being sold nationally is down on the peak levels of the 1970’s and 80’s, and indeed on the Second World War when it was essentially the national drink, we are not looking to compete with those times. We look for quality over quantity and our ambition is to develop and innovate our beers locally. The furthest locations we deliver too are only 30 miles away. There’s no need to compete nationally when the local customers are so passionate and loyal.”

So the future is bright? “Craft beer is still in its infancy and there is a lot room for growth. The current appetite is to pay more for a locally brewed beer, and that doesn’t seem to be in danger of disappearing, with plenty of people fed up with homogenised brands.

“On a personal note, and as a result of our continued growth, we have been able to recruit two apprentice brewers who worked for us while they studied at university and decided to join us full time after they graduated.

“I think this shows the changing times quite clearly. Now young people are seeing craft brewing as a legitimate career path.”

See the ONS report on the top ten products sold by UK manufacturers in 2014 >

Read the ONS data on the output of the UK’s food and drink sector over recent years >