Fermented Craftsmanship in the Bottle (eBook)

This book addresses the construction of new forms of work, drawing on the experiences of craft brewers, and pointing to the relationship between learning, career paths, and entrepreneurship in the context of the craft economy. The development and growth of microbreweries represent an opportunity for entrepreneurship in the craft sector, offering a growth space for entrepreneurs who wish to create and promote high-quality products while enhancing local resources and contributing to the vitality of the local economy. Through this dynamic, it is possible to study the process of incorporation of specialised knowledge, skills and competencies that occurs through work practices. The experience of craft brewers is part of a global phenomenon of individuals who decide to invest in new craft professions, and give new directions to their lives; a choice guided by autonomy, flexibility, passion and the pleasure of work. The book explores the re-evaluation of manual work, the authenticity, creativity, innovation and quality of artisan production, the distinction between artisanal and industrial products, and craftsmanship as a critical element reflecting the changes taking place in the economy and the new professions. The book adopts an ethnographic and multidisciplinary approach that embraces anthropology, sociology, economics, geography, and education.