Although most people associate beer with large brands like Budweiser, Corona, and Bud Light, a lot of beer drinkers have switched to lesser-known brands. That’s because of the complexity of flavors and the different styles certain types of craft beer can offer. As we’ve mentioned in some posts, like our article on beer sales, the craft beer revolution has been among the biggest trends in this sector. Both breweries and other businesses have adapted to it by including craft beers on their menus. However, there are other trends that are shaping the industry and are likely to change it in the future. In this post, we’ll shed some light on the current beer trends and the shifts in the broad beverage industry. Make sure to also read our articles on beer software solutions and beer marketing.
Key takeaway: Beer is perceived much differently by the younger generations compared to older ones. Long-time beer drinkers are often loyal to well-established brands, while people in their twenties and thirties often wish to try new craft beer styles. This shift in customer behavior is among the major beer trends that restaurant managers, breweries, beer importers, and other businesses had to adapt to.
Latest Beer Trends
In the past decade, there have been significant transformations in the beer industry. Some of them were caused by changes in consumer behavior while others are the result of technological innovations.
Healthier Options
Low-ABV and non-alcoholic beers have seen a steady increase in the past few years. They are popular among athletes, active individuals, and health-conscious consumers. Athletic Brewing has increased its market share significantly thanks to offering healthier beers and appealing to the right audience.
Local Sourcing
In an attempt to reduce their supply chains and help the local community, many businesses add local options to their draft beer menus. This can also be turned into partnerships with local breweries and organizing beer tasting events (another common beer trend) or other campaigns to help the brewery & restaurant marketing.
Flavor Innovations
The foodie culture has also spread to other branches of the broad food and beverage industry. The beer sector makes no difference. Many beer drinkers want to try new flavors and different styles of beer. That’s why taprooms and brewpubs offer beer flights to give customers the chance to taste different beers, even in small quantities. Breweries often produce beers with exotic ingredients like fruits and spices. New flavors are likely to be a major beer trend in the upcoming years.
Technological Advancements
New technologies can help brewery business owners and other companies in the sector. These innovations can be seen in various aspects, such as beer storage, manufacturing, sales, and customer experience. In recent years, some breweries have integrated AI-powered solutions to help them achieve consistency with each brew and optimize recipes.
New Marketing Channels
Sponsorships of sports teams and traditional forms of advertisement are still major channels in beer marketing. However, smaller and independent breweries often can’t afford these expensive advertising options. That’s why they’ve switched to influencer marketing, social media marketing, direct contact with businesses to increase B2B sales, and other forms of marketing.
Beer Cocktails and Hybrid Drinks
In recent years, businesses in the restaurant industry have started experimenting with new mocktails and cocktails. Some of these innovative cocktails are based on different craft beer styles. In addition to cocktails, breweries and other businesses in the beer niche market are experimenting with other beverages. For example, hop waters, radlers, and other hybrid beverages have become a popular beer trend.
Contract Brewing and White-Label Services
Some breweries might not have the capabilities and capital needed to establish a distribution network and marketing channels. In that case, they might focus on manufacturing and offer white label and contract brewing services for other brands.
Increased Number of Nano and Microbreweries
The number of breweries in the US has doubled in the past 10 years. Although some of these breweries are built by large beer brands, the majority of them are small and independent ones. Currently, there are around 10,000 breweries in the country, and a large percentage of them are focused on craft beers. Due to the reduced demand for beer in the past few years, some microbreweries and brewpubs had to close. If you want to hop on the craft beer trend wagon, read our posts about how to start a brewery and beer distributors.
Frequently Asked Questions about Beer Trends
Whether you’re looking for resources on high-demand products to sell or wish to know more about the effect of supply chain disruptions, you’ll find plenty of articles on BlueCart’s blog. Check out our answers to common questions regarding hot beer trends and the future of the beer sector.
How Businesses Can Benefit from Beer Trends?
Food service businesses can profit from the latest beer trends in various ways. For example, creating a craft beer menu can attract beer enthusiasts and give waiters upselling opportunities. Furthermore, since innovative beers from independent breweries can be sold at a higher profit margin, restaurant businesses can increase their revenue and profit.
Breweries can also benefit from the latest beer trends. They can focus on D2C sales through their own website or third-party eCommerce platforms. That will result in additional revenue and profit. In addition, this helps breweries achieve better brand recognition and awareness.
What Are the Worldwide Beer Trends?
The beer trends in regions like Asia and Africa might differ significantly compared to the US and other Western countries. Countries like India, China, and some African countries have seen a large increase in their brewing industries. That’s due to the improving purchasing power and standard of living. Nevertheless, regular pale lagers still dominate these markets, and craft beers have a much smaller market share. A lot of beer businesses around the world focus on the export of local beers. This allows expats to enjoy a beloved domestic beer even if they live abroad.
What Is the Future of the Beer Market?
The global beer market is expected to grow. The main drivers for this growth are increased consumption in developing regions like Africa and Asia. Although the US beer market has slightly shrunk in the past few years, consumption stays strong and businesses need to adapt to the trends. A lot of breweries have put more emphasis on low-calorie, non-alcoholic, or gluten-free beers as a way to answer the demand for such products. Beer businesses have also switched their focus from purely beer sales to offering experiences (beer tasting events or beer brewing workshops) and offering additional products (DIY kits for home brewing or accessories and merchandise).
BlueCart: The Wholesale Marketplace for Businesses and Suppliers
Both companies and distributors can benefit from our wholesale ordering software’s features. Retailers and food service businesses can find suppliers and use BlueCart’s inventory management solutions. Our software makes wholesale ordering easier and hassle-free. On the other hand, both nationwide broadline distributors and local specialized suppliers can use BlueCart to their advantage. Our SaaS platform allows them to automate a variety of tasks while helping them boost wholesale sales. Schedule a demo with one of our sales representatives and see why BlueCart is considered among the best software for wholesalers and their customers.