Next mainstream style

True, it can be a hard one to pin down but that also gives the style greater flexibility. I can imagine something light like Dupont making a killing with non craft/wine drinkers on tap while the geeks go for Brett saisons, higher gravity stuff, etc

 

Back to the OP, let's face it, so-called "craft beer" is never going to be mainstream.Look at the background; in Europe the sort of beer you would regard as "craft" was the norm. Along came light lagers and swept the board. This was because most people look for an easy drinking non challenging brew and found they actually preferred it to the heavily hopped strong beers available previously.That, I'm afraid is the nature of the beast and though "craft" (whatever that means if anything) beers will make some headway they won't ever become mainstream again.But this is no problem as long as everybody can buy what they want.

 

American Adjunct IPA - beer brewed with 'hop flavored' corn

 

In my interactions with people on beeradvocate, I would say an overwhelming majority knowingly and willingly support Ab/Inbev regularly.

 

Knowingly, willingly, and regularly...but perhaps not yet happily? Ahh, but that's where the bourbon barrel aged mainstream beers come in.

 

I'm thinking hoppy sours like New Belgiums Le Terrior or St Gilliose from Cantillon. Both easily the most enjoyable brews that I usually kill a bottle by myself.

 

That would be cool but I am not sure I see it happening. I mean my understanding is that Old Ales are more costly and labour intensive to produce compared to something like an IPA. I was reading an article about how Thomas Hardy's Ale was discontinued and part of the problem brewers was having is that it uses quite a bit more malt than an average beer. Plus it spends around a year in the tanks conditioning before it can be bottled. That is a lot of time for brewers to sit on something and wait before they can sell it.

 

Good point, but I think there's more who happily do it than you may think.

 

Just curious, are you saying this as a result of brands like G.I. and Franziskaner falling under AbInbev, or are you saying the majority willingly supports the brands Bud, Bud Light, etc.?

 

I am saying thing like GI, Spaten, Hoegaarden, etc. Most BA's I have dealt with have take no issue with buying those beers.