The craft beer industry, like any industry, is full of trends. VinePair.com reports “Not all beer trends are created equal. Some have staying power and become national or global phenomena, while others fizzle quickly. There are several movements coursing through American breweries that are worth celebrating, but, for now, let’s focus on the absolute worst.”
To find the worst trends in craft beer today, VinePair asked 20 brewers in their opinion, what was leaving a bad taste on the industry:
The General Manager of Evil Twin Brewing NYC, Corey Gargiulo, said “I think ratings on apps and websites have taken some of the human element out of craft beer. While it’s great to have craft-beer fans excited about beer X, Y, or Z, I often see consumers relying too heavily on ratings to drive what they purchase as opposed to having a conversation with their bartenders and brewers. Most all of my beer ‘Aha!’ moments have come through connecting with someone and trying something completely new and unfamiliar. I think it’s our jobs as brewers and bartenders to help guide more of those experiences for craft-beer fans.”
Head Brewer and Blender of Barrel Culture Brewing and Blending, Paul Wasmund, dislikes “The packaging and selling of unfinished beer. Many small breweries don’t have the necessary pasteurization capabilities in order to make a product stable after blending in various fruits and juices, so they package it in cans and warn the consumer to ‘keep it cold’ to avoid the cans exploding. For me, this is a trend I’d like to see fade away. Either buy a pasteurizer for your cans, or simply keep it on tap in your taproom where it can be controlled.”
Chris Gilmore, Brewer of Lone Tree Brewing Company detests “Seltzers in breweries. I think the trend will leave a negative impact on the integrity of the industry. I understand the desire to diversify, especially given stagnant sales across the industry of late, but hard seltzer is not the answer. I can get down with hazy IPAs, pastry stouts, and even beer cocktails. Seltzer is a quick copout for a lot of fledgling places. I’d like to see low-calorie beer or even nonalcoholic craft options fill the void. At least it’s still beer.”
Founder and Brewer of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Ron Jeffries, believes “Distributor consolidation and the buying up of craft breweries and brands by large multinational companies is creating a super-challenging retail environment for all the independent craft brewers.”
No matter the trend, brewers need solutions that stick, like a reliable technology partner that can position their efforts toward industry success. As a leading provider of coding and marking systems, REA JET understands and adapts to the changing industry, offering custom solutions to fit brewers’ needs. From coding cases and caps in a dry environment to marking cans and bottles on a wet packaging line, our next-generation high resolution printers adapt, providing clear and consistent printing every time.
To learn more about our automated, high resolution coding and marking technology for the craft beer industry, visit reajetus.com today.
Source: Krommydas, N. (2019, July 30). We Asked 20 Brewers: What Are The Worst Trends In Beer Right Now? Retrieved from https://vinepair.com/articles/20-worst-beer-trends-craft/