Where's American craft brewing heading?

Jagdad · 11-27-2011, 02:58 PM

Maybe this isn't quite on topic with hop growing, but I figure we all need something to discuss besides spring preorders or we'll go crazy

- So-o-o-o where do you all think craft brewing is heading over the next 5 years?
IMHO, I think the next push is going to be in the area of bohemian/fruit beers. I am basing that on the observation of all the other alcoholic beverages - wine, vodka, rum, schnapps - all went from commodity flavors to fruity. Look how Mike's hard lemonade progressed; or Vodka. When I was a kid, vodka came in one flavor -"vodka"

I imagine a bar tap setup where Ales are tapped and cherry, blueberry, pomegranate shots are added. Kinda like how they used to make cherry coke, the old fashioned way. (The big thing at our local pub seems to be drinking beer and doing flavored shots - so maybe I'm not predicting much here

)
What do you think?

rexbanner · 11-27-2011, 03:06 PM

Well, Mike's hard lemonade is a drink for women.

Budweiser might try a fruit beer, but considering the direction they are already heading with Platinum, I doubt it. Michelob already makes a bunch of fruity beers which I never see anyone drinking.

The direction things are heading are towards more Belgian and sour beers. Look at the success of Russian River and Jolly Pumpkin. The market is saturated with IPAs.

Also, BMC is going to have to start really trying to go after craft beer drinkers because they are losing market share every year.

**motobrewer** · 11-27-2011, 03:10 PM

the next big thing in craft beer is cider.

**Dan** · 11-27-2011, 03:14 PM

I don't know where it will go but the trend does seem like many homebrewers are playing around with it. For me, just my 2 cents. Putting fruit and what not in beer is just plain wrong. Liquor has been mixed with sweet stuff for a long time to cut down on the alcohol, fine. But beer ought to taste like beer. Barley, Hops, Yeast and water but that's just me.

jgerard · 11-27-2011, 03:19 PM

I've been seeing a lot more barrel aged brews around.

A brewery in the quad cities ages one of their brews in old templeton rye barrels. I've heard of places using old wine barrels too. I tried a stout this weekend with oak chips in it.

I would like to try using some wood chips myself at some point.

headbanger · 11-27-2011, 03:32 PM

Around here I'm seeing a trend of apa style brews loaded with low alpha hops. They are very good, easy drinking beers with lots of hop flavor and aroma but without alot of bitterness.

**Airborneguy** · 11-27-2011, 04:02 PM

Fruit beers have been around forever and have never risen to a strong popularity level, why would that change suddenly?

The spirits drinker and the craft beer drinker have almost nothing in common if you look at the market. Craft beer bars very little in common with nightclubs other than the requirement to hold a liquor license.

**BrewerinBR** · 11-27-2011, 04:24 PM

I see craft brewing and home brewing expanding and the variety of quality beers going up. More people are becoming aware of the tremendous variety and quality out there now. As demand rises for quality beer the variety of beers available will go up. As home brewing expands more people will convert to quality brews. Having only been brewing 11 short months, brewing batch 021 right now, and converted at least 4 BMC drinkers to quality craft beer. As craft brewing expands it will become like the way it was when each town/city had its own quality brews using local ingredients. Will a great time for beer!

**Dan** · 11-27-2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airborneguy

Fruit beers have been around forever and have never risen to a strong popularity level, why would that change suddenly?

The spirits drinker and the craft beer drinker have almost nothing in common if you look at the market. Craft beer bars very little in common with nightclubs other than the requirement to hold a liquor license.

This.

headbanger · 11-27-2011, 06:25 PM

Honestly I can't really remember the last time I bought any beer other than when going out to eat or party. The vast majority of the time I only drink the beer I brew. Don't get me wrong, I drink a lot of it... But if you ask me that's where we're all headed, and rightfully so. I prefer my beer over any I can buy.