New beer trends emerge from 2020 to restart 2021!
Because the pandemic shut down most of the world, the craft beer industry had to punt, regarding how they stayed in business AND how to get beer to it’s consumers during the lock-down.
Most craft breweries, often overnight, had to come up with ideas that changed the whole landscape of how beer lovers imbibed. From curbside pick-up, to online orders and delivery, drive-thru or any other means, the industry HAD to come up with something to stay in business. Many business’ folded during the pandemic due to lack of sales stemming from the lack of employees to keep it running. Even brewers assistants were scarce.
Another trend that has come is the need for alcohol free beer options. For many years, the N/A’s or A/F’s were few an far between and watery without much of the beer flavor. Now, many craft breweries are trying to come up with better options for A/F consumers. Health trends have also pushed brewers in that direction.
Oddly enough, 2020 was a banner year for N/A sales! That only says that 2021 will be bigger, with many more options and flavors!
On the other side of that coin is the rise of higher ABV brews and distilled beers. Beer with “Imperial”, “Double” will most likely have higher ABVs. The growing trend is beer that’s been removed from the fermentation tanks and aged in wooden whisky, bourbon, wine, etc. barrels. The alcohol that is absorbed by the wood is released, with the specific flavor of whatever was previously aged in it, and the beer will have the added resemblance as well as higher alcohol by volume. Some of these can become really “big boy beers” that are to be sipped rather than chugged. These also have more flavor profiles with deeper and darker colors and strong flavors. I’m a fan of these, but they are quite a bit more pricey and always in smaller batches, as they are aged for six months, a year, or longer. These are limited editions and limited releases as well.
The growth of IPAs over the last couple years has not changed. IPAs will also be the king of craft beers in 2021. Double IPAs, hazy IPA, NEIPAs and any other creative ideas will most certainly continue to keep growing.
One trend I really don’t understand is the growth of craft hard seltzers. I have tasted a few and I’m not a fan, at all. I LOVE flavor. Seltzers seem to be just that – seltzer water with alcohol infused with fruit flavors. I’m not judging those who like them, I just don’t understand the fandom.
If you’re paying attention to the culture of craft brewing, no doubt you’ll see many more trends not mentioned here.
Another way the industry of craft beer has changed due to COVID is the subscription box. There are several out there but I’ve only tried two of them.
I prefer https://www.beerbox.com/ over the other I’ve had. Rather than two cans of five different beers ONLY from Colorado, Beer Box stuffs the box with eight different beers from all over and tow of those are 16oz cans. You get a much wider variety and they throw in a couple packs of The Original Beer Nuts and some cool extras like a handful of stickers and coasters from breweries from all over. As a collector of the coasters, I thought that was awesome!
Southern Tier Brewing Company
Nice Slice is a session style IPA with a wonderful nose and flavor of cool watermelon. Perfect for summer! It pours a golden amber with a nice thick head that slowly dissapates. That head is where you smell the watermelon, wheat malt and and very light hop. The taste is watermelon infusion and slightly sweet malt that is crisp and clean and leaves only a bready, watermelon aftertaste that makes you crave another drink. Very low IBU and an easily drinkable 5% ABV means you can have a few with no problems.
