Luke MacGregor / Reuters

London: A pair of gloves and a mallet rest on beer barrels at The Kernel microbrewery on October 17, 2012. Where once the big, multinational beer corporations accounted for the lion's share of brewery growth, now small, independent brewers are leading the way.

Mario Tama / Getty Images

New York: Workers install a 25-foot tall fermenter at Brooklyn Brewery.

Beer drinkers in London and New York City may be separated by a frothy ocean, but, as photographers Mario Tama and Luke MacGregor saw for themselves over the past few days, they increasingly share a taste for cask ales produced by small, independent brewers. 

During the pre-Prohibition era, Brooklyn (a New York City borough) had more than 45 breweries and was one of the largest brewing centers in the U.S., Getty Images reports, but today Brooklyn Brewery is the only brewery in the borough. 

The tide is turning, though. A mid-year report by the Brewer's Association cited a 12 percent increase in craft beer sales to 6 million barrels this year. The number of American breweries has surged to a 125-year-high of 2,126 breweries last year, 97 percent of which are independent craft breweries.  

In Britain, meanwhile, microbreweries have seen their numbers rise above 1,000 for the first time in over 70 years, Reuters reports, even as Britons' affection for their national drink has waned. The Kernel microbrewery in Bermondsey, South London is one of many new kids on the British beer block.

"People are moving away from the mainstream rubbish," Andrew Turner of the recently opened London Fields brewery said. "They want to drink good local stuff."

Got your beer goggles on? Check out these videos:

• The politics of beer
• Recipes revealed for White House's homebrewed beers
• Cows crash party, help themselves to beer
• What's brewing in Pakistan?

Mario Tama / Getty Images

New York: Workers prepare to install a 25-foot tall fermenter at Brooklyn Brewery on October 23, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

Luke MacGregor / Reuters

London: Brewer Joby Williams breaks up the hops used in the brewing process to create an India Pale Ale beer at The Kernel micro-brewery.

Luke MacGregor / Reuters

London: Brewer Chrigl Luthy cleans out the malt and spent grain from the mash tun used in the brewing process to create an India Pale Ale at The Kernel micro-brewery.

Mario Tama / Getty Images

New York: A total of eight fermenters are being installed at Brooklyn Brewery this week, which will allow the craft brewery to make 100,000 barrels of beer per year, 24 hours a day.

Mario Tama / Getty Images

New York: Production manager Jimmy Valm adds hops to the boil in the brewhouse at Brooklyn Brewery.

Luke MacGregor / Reuters

London: A box of beer and a pair of wellington boots are seen at The Kernel micro-brewery.

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