As someone who is embedded in the craft beer world I am asked almost on a daily basis what I think the next big trend in the craft beer world will be. In this article we will take a look at what I would consider to be the current craft beer trends as well as what will be the next big "thing" in the future. Before we do that though let us consider why craft beer drinkers are obsessed with the notion of the next big craft beer trend. The answer may not be as clear cut as you may expect. Essentially though it boils down to the proliferation of small craft brewers throughout the country trying to differentiate themselves from the pack. In some areas of the country craft breweries are popping up at an extremely rapid rate which is creating a surplus of great beer.
Jukas' Russian River Row 2 Hill 56 Clone
In order to be successful in these competitive markets breweries not only have to be able to brew a great beer but must be able to differentiate themselves from the competition, and this second point is usually what leads to the next big trend in craft beer. All it takes is for one brewery to brew something a little different that catches the imagination of the craft beer craving public to throw that next big beer trend into the lexicon of the craft beer world. A few notable examples of this phenomenon are when Boston Beer and Goose Island decided to age big beers in spirit barrels, Russian RIver and Stone throwing caution to the wind and brewing with exorbitant amounts of hops creating what we know today as the standard West Coast IPA and Brewery Ommegang and Allagash deciding to challenge what the public knows about European beers and brew Belgian styles exclusively with great success. Now with all that laid out on the table let us move on to what are some of the current craft beer trends.
bhughes' Green Flash IPA clone
The one trend that is riding the wave of popularity among breweries is the idea of sessionable beers. Session beers typically have an ABV range of around 3.5-5% and are designed to be very drinkable and refreshing while still maintaining the big flavors that the craft beer public has come to know and love. Since IPA's are an enormously popular style most breweries are tending to focus on session IPA's. Some notable examples are Founders Brewing's All Day IPA and Stone Brewing's enormously popular Go To IPA. Both of these beers are great examples of what a session IPA should be, massively hoppy but still extremely drinkable. So now that a session IPA has become pretty much common place amongst breweries the trend would have to adopt or die and we are already starting to see a shift in the session beer label. A few breweries have started to brew up sessionable stouts, most noticeably is Stone Brewing's recently released Coffee Milk Stout coming in at 4.2%. There has also been a shift to the idea of barrel aging session beers.
New Holland brewing recently released a barrel aged pale ale called Carhartt Woodsman, coming in at 4.4% this beer completely bucks the idea that a barrel aged beer must be some big imperial based brew. Since session beers are so light in the malt bill a barrel has the opportunity to import big flavors in to these session beers. Now sure the ABV may be bumped up slightly but the flavors are second to none. At the end of the day session beers are here to stay, they are easy to produce but offer up the flavors and complexity that some of the bigger beers they compete with do.
azscoob's Reaper's Mild Session Beer
At the end of the day trends are just that, trends. Craft beer is no exception to the rule. What really counts is how the craft beer industry can take these trends and adopt them so that the craft beer public embraces them and makes them more than just the proverbial flicker in the flame. Will it be the session beer, will it be a resurrected style or will it be a new type of barrel aged beer that dominates the market? We will only know once the beer hits the market. But with all of that said I wholeheartedly suggest that not only should you ignore the current trends and hype behind beers but embrace your local craft breweries and explore all the local flavors have to offer. Cheers and remember, "life is to short..drink amazing beers"!
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Chris Steltz is the latest writer to join the HomeBrewTalk writing team. Heading up BeerGeekNation.com, please be sure to visit Chris' site and show him our support!
Jukas' Russian River Row 2 Hill 56 Clone
In order to be successful in these competitive markets breweries not only have to be able to brew a great beer but must be able to differentiate themselves from the competition, and this second point is usually what leads to the next big trend in craft beer. All it takes is for one brewery to brew something a little different that catches the imagination of the craft beer craving public to throw that next big beer trend into the lexicon of the craft beer world. A few notable examples of this phenomenon are when Boston Beer and Goose Island decided to age big beers in spirit barrels, Russian RIver and Stone throwing caution to the wind and brewing with exorbitant amounts of hops creating what we know today as the standard West Coast IPA and Brewery Ommegang and Allagash deciding to challenge what the public knows about European beers and brew Belgian styles exclusively with great success. Now with all that laid out on the table let us move on to what are some of the current craft beer trends.
bhughes' Green Flash IPA clone
The one trend that is riding the wave of popularity among breweries is the idea of sessionable beers. Session beers typically have an ABV range of around 3.5-5% and are designed to be very drinkable and refreshing while still maintaining the big flavors that the craft beer public has come to know and love. Since IPA's are an enormously popular style most breweries are tending to focus on session IPA's. Some notable examples are Founders Brewing's All Day IPA and Stone Brewing's enormously popular Go To IPA. Both of these beers are great examples of what a session IPA should be, massively hoppy but still extremely drinkable. So now that a session IPA has become pretty much common place amongst breweries the trend would have to adopt or die and we are already starting to see a shift in the session beer label. A few breweries have started to brew up sessionable stouts, most noticeably is Stone Brewing's recently released Coffee Milk Stout coming in at 4.2%. There has also been a shift to the idea of barrel aging session beers.
New Holland brewing recently released a barrel aged pale ale called Carhartt Woodsman, coming in at 4.4% this beer completely bucks the idea that a barrel aged beer must be some big imperial based brew. Since session beers are so light in the malt bill a barrel has the opportunity to import big flavors in to these session beers. Now sure the ABV may be bumped up slightly but the flavors are second to none. At the end of the day session beers are here to stay, they are easy to produce but offer up the flavors and complexity that some of the bigger beers they compete with do.
azscoob's Reaper's Mild Session Beer
At the end of the day trends are just that, trends. Craft beer is no exception to the rule. What really counts is how the craft beer industry can take these trends and adopt them so that the craft beer public embraces them and makes them more than just the proverbial flicker in the flame. Will it be the session beer, will it be a resurrected style or will it be a new type of barrel aged beer that dominates the market? We will only know once the beer hits the market. But with all of that said I wholeheartedly suggest that not only should you ignore the current trends and hype behind beers but embrace your local craft breweries and explore all the local flavors have to offer. Cheers and remember, "life is to short..drink amazing beers"!
***
Chris Steltz is the latest writer to join the HomeBrewTalk writing team. Heading up BeerGeekNation.com, please be sure to visit Chris' site and show him our support!
