At the small-scale end of the brewing scene, in the 1980's, there was a brief flurry of micro-brewery activity, which was unfortunately decimated by the recession at the end of the 1980's. In addition, the most successful micro-breweries were gobbled up by the Big Two. In the mid-1990's, there has been a minor revival of micro-brewing, primarily in the form of BrewPubs. Fortunately, there is enough micro-brewing activity to stimulate the large brewers to improve their product and to "keep pace" with the styles being pioneered by the small brewers.
The period from the mid-1970's on has also seen a steady growth in the popularity of home brewing. Improvements in equipment and ingredients, as the market has expanded, has seen it now possible to produce excellent quality ales, stouts, and even lagers, at home. The kits produced by Coopers are no small part of the reason for this. Recently, the advent of brew-on-the-premises centres has introduced a new generation of home brewers to the art of brewing more conveniently than had been possible in the past.