The Brewers Association has unrolled a new icon for small and independent craft breweries to place on packaging so consumers know their products do not come from any of the beer giants.

The new label is an upside-down beer bottle with the words "independent craft" clearly visible. The seal "gives beer lovers an easy way to identify true small and independent craft brewers, something they have indicated is important to them," BA said in a statement.

The Boulder, Colo.-based association represents small and medium-sized breweries. Craft beer is the fastest growing segment of the industry, but in recent years large beer producers such as Anheuser Busch have been busying smaller breweries and releasing craft brands of their own.

"Small and independent craft brewers continue to turn the beer industry upside down so that they can live the American dream while still putting community above corporation, people ahead of profit and beer before the bottom line," BA said.

"This seal lets beer drinkers know that the spirit of independence shines through in the incredible beers that small and independent craft breweries are making every day," the group added.

More than 5,300 breweries are currently in operation in the U.S. and 99 percent of the businesses are small and independent, according to the association. http://bit.ly/2ttdU4L

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