What beer trend will dominate 2020?

Buyouts and closures.

 

I feel, of the given choices, lagers have the most room to grow. But, really, who the fuck knows where beer will go in the next year? I'm along for the ride, as long as there are still independent brewers making good beer.

 

Or, "ipas that give you cavities". I like that!

 

Lagers.

Maybe the head brewers got/get tired of hearing about how high hopping rates are an easy feat and about anyone can do it. The Haze will still be strong, it more than pays the bills, but the challenge of making beers as good Pivo Pils and Prima might be the ultimate. Brewers like a challenge? Then take that head on and make a great Pils. I see the rise in the style here and it has been growing steadily this year. I like the use of non typical hops too, it’s okay to experiment and get away from Hallertau or Saaz. Mason Jar made a nice Pils using Mosaic hops, it was pretty well received.

 

We could see lagers grow considerably if the trend of lower alcohol, session-able styles continues. Lagers have opportunity for innovation, as well as introducing the style to many who are primarily ale drinkers.

 

Let me add a separate thought. You want to bring more crossover beer drinkers into BA, it’s a far easier sell when you go from a Budweiser to a Pivo Pils. I sent my Dad a box of Cold Mountain and Red Oak Pils for Xmas, he loves them, and he hates my ipas and such, even my brother likes the better Pils. Your not going to crossover with more IPAs, or sours, or funky beer, you want to dip into the 95% of that market it has to be user friendly, but there’s a lot of money right there, and it could be up for grabs, even a few percentage points would be a huge inroad.

 

Lagers. Hazy, double dry hopped sugar bomb lagers.

 

100% agree. Honestly I get the same warm fuzzy when I get a macro drinker to enjoy a good pils or blonde as I do when I get a someone to enjoy some challenging sour. It's all bout spreading the love of beer.

 

I hope not, no lactose needed.

 

The low ABV fruit purée sours seem to be a hit with women that don’t generally like most other beer styles (because it’s barely a beer), so I see that trend continuing. Also more and more brewery taprooms serving up wine, hard seltzer, ciders etc. allows a larger migration of a larger customer base to hanging out at breweries, vs pubs or taverns.

 

I don’t necessarily want more lagers, as that will just make finding fresh traditional lagers of quality even harder to find in stores than current. And if all of the local brewers think this is a bandwagon to jump into with $13+ 4 pack of Pilsners and Helles will work...that trend will be DOA.

 

4-packs/16 ounce cans of lagers (Helles, Pilsners, etc.) are not dead in my area. Some craft beer consumers are buying those beers.

I instead opt to purchase 6-pack/12 ounce cans of beers like Sterling Pig Shoat Pilsner, Sly Fox Helles Golden Lager, etc. instead.

Enough lager beer consumers for both markets/formats?

Cheers!

 

Lagers. The new ones being brewed had better be up to the level of UCBC, KC Bier, or Live Oak. I'm not interested in trying their sub-par attempts at Helles, Dunkels, Schwarz, Pilsners, etc. You can play with the malt profiles some, but do not bastardize these styles with American hops (looking at you Stonecloud).

 

UCBC does their Zwickel, Schnickelfritz, and Stammtisch in 4x16oz but they're usually $8-$9. Everything is more expensive on the coasts, and you're paying for the increased overhead out there.

 

Lager Lager Lager!!

 

rauchbier

 

sour ipa's

 

Lower ABV beers that dont sacrifice in the flavor department.

 

Most of the brewers I know head out after work and where do they head? Someplace that makes crisp, clean lagers...there's something to be said for that...

 

I vote lagers but they had better be good. I have a few local places (Idle Hands, Notch, Jacks Abby) that reliably make excellent and reasonably priced lagers but there are too many places that pump out a subpar Helles, Pils, or Keller just to round out their lineup.