What will be the next "big thing" in beer?

Although I disagree, Deschutes recently started distributing in Illinois and at a sort of "launch seminar presentation" one of the brewers claimed the next big thing will be low-ABV beers.

Like I said, I disagree. But this wasn't exactly some drunk talking your ear off at your favorite watering hole. It was a higher up at a large craft brewery.

 

I see ALOT more rye beers coming out. Especially IPA's

 

I don't know if it WILL be, but what I'd LIKE to see is radically traditional beers. Craft brewers making quintessential representations of styles.

 

Collabos. I think EVERYONE will start collabing. International and domestic.

 

I'm seeing many more experimental and/or hybrid saisons from breweries. I don't have enough experience in the craft scene to say if that's a new trend or part of some older trend, but I think I'll be seeing more to come.

 

While not really beer, I think cider is going to get bigger, a lot bigger.

 

voodoo bacon cheeseburger doughnut

 

Barrel aging seems to be taking off. everything is oaked, smoked, bourbon, rum, or some other aged....

 

I know I'm looking a ways into the future, but the next "big thing" that I'm intrigued with is the eventual results from the craft beer craze occurring. How much market share will craft beers actually grab? And how many craft breweries can the market actually support? There are so many new breweries hitting the market, not all of them will survive, and that will include some craft breweries that pre-date the recent craze.

 

I hope a resurgence of Berlinerstyleweiss appears!

 

IPA's w/brett.

 

I love love love barrel aged stuff... but I periodically get bored by it. I suspect other do too... I suspect BA has reached its zenith.

I agree w/ Lognar... cider is expanding very rapidly

 

I agree with this, but also more along the lines of barrels with Brett and Lacto in there. Been seeing quite a few breweries starting to try wild ales, along with some new brewers that only do Wild ales/Belgians. Not even remotely upset about this.

 

I have a friend in the industry and they have been increasing productivity and forced to move into bigger spaces every other year. They can't keep up with new orders and can't seem to produce enough to satisfy demand. And they only have 2 varieties! It's crazy, but I think its a gateway to craft beer, so rock on.

 

I can't believe how many new sours/wilds there are coming out of the US breweries right now. A few years ago they were few and far between and there was a feeling that American producers couldn't do it like the Belgians, but that's certainly not the case today.

 

That would be sweet. Love me some hop rod rye and some cane and ebel. Even the Schell emerald rye lager was good

 

Alpine finally brewing Whales, bro. Srs.

 

I guess. people are pretty bored with BCBS, KBS, BA Bigfoot, BCBCS, BBA Sexual Chocolate, Vanilla Dark Lord, Backwoods Bastard, Black Note, Black Ops...

These will be dusty on shelves by the end of 2013...

Although I do acquiesce that the original thread expects that the BA craze is already in full swing.... Not the next big thing.