What will be the next style to explode, and why?

With the number of new breweries rising quickly, the popularity of drinking "local" will climb quicker than the rising popularity of any particular style.

(and on a separate note - nothing will be "the new IPA" anytime soon)

 

....there actually might not be anything more pointless than a sessionable barleywine. That's like a sessionable Madeira....why?

 

Dogfish Heads new TNT Imperial Stout.

Enjoy

 

I could see IPL's becoming the next big thing. The reason being that they have enough hop presence to please most hop heads but have the mellow finish of a lager which makes them unique from the typical hoppy IPA. Also I believe that many non-craft beer drinkers will also be able to enjoy this style of beer due to the uniqueness they offer over the adjunct lager yet are not overly shocking to a newbies palate.

 

Funny and frightening.

 

A sessionable Imperial Stout with Citra would be awesome.

 

My favorite local brewery has made a bunch of smoked black IPAs, they're awesome.

 

....but are they sessionable smoked black IPA's? And are they brewed with Citra? Yeah, didn't think so.



Unfortunately, I do not foresee smoked-anything becoming a big style. We may like our BBQ in Amuuurrrrica but I've not seen too many people hopping on the bacon and campfire beer bandwagon yet. Probably because it isn't a wagon, it's a bicycle ridden by two hipsters being chased by a German yelling "I DID IT BETTER." It isn't big enough to be a wagon yet.

 

Epic Brewing makes a Brown Rice Ale. Its not that good.

 

Barleywines hopefully

 

With the popularity of MC and it's varieties, and PB, I'd say beer brewed in this style. Even though Huna, and BB 23 had chilies, and Ghost face was over the top, moderate brews with cocolate and suc with peppers may expand. NC and PB are huge success stories.

 

Wheat beers using Hefeweizen and Witbier yeast instead of Hops for flavor.

 

Umm...

I disagree

 

I think a number belgian styles if not belgian styles in general have already began their rise to becoming some of the most popular. I know it's already been mentioned, but serious effort has been put into the saison front. The only problem I see with saisons becoming one of the upmost popular is the fact that they are historically a summer beer, and for those of us with frigid winter conditions they become only a seasonal craving. With that in mind, while we have something like saisons for the summer, we also have belgian dark strongs for the winter.

 

I think IPA's had the last popularity explosion and have plateaued. Sours are still in the midst of their explosion and are far from slowing down. Personally, I'm hoping Belgian styles have an explosion next. Tripels, Quads, Belgian IPA's...

 

Woodchuck has a dry hopped cider which is pretty good.

 

Yep. It's all about the cat piss.

 

you touched a nerve there. yeah. I remember Macallan 18yr at $43

 

Nothing.

Seriously. I don't think the APA thing will happen again. No other style will do what it did.