The craft beer industry is ever-changing, especially in Pennsylvania. With the large number of breweries in this state, brewers push the limits and constantly craft new delicious brews.

Breweries In PA talked with 16 professional brewers across the great state of Pennsylvania and asked them what they see coming in 2020. Here is what they believe will happen, from low ABV beer offerings, to more pilsners (clear beer), and the obvious seltzer push.

“I don’t think low ABV beer will ever be a trend in craft but I am going to continue to push them in hopes it does catch on. I want to drink sub 4% beers personally so I hope we brew a lot of them in 2020.” – Andy Kwiatkowski, Head Brewer, Hitchhiker Brewing, Pittsburgh, PA

“The market will continue to want hazy IPAs, but I could definitely see a push for something more West Coast happening in light of saturation. It would be great to see craft lagers increase even slightly, if only to satisfy the thirst of those of us in the industry. Seltzers won’t be going away and might continue to gain speed, but I doubt that most craft breweries will really benefit from any of that. From this side of things, the push is going to be for lower ABV, traditional, and mixed culture beers with our fingers crossed that the public notices.” – Matt Snyder, Head Brewer, Weyerbacher, Easton, PA

“…Craft Seltzer, low ABV options (like pilsners), and the styles that got craft beer started like west coast IPAs are going to make a comeback.” – Matt Gilberg, Lead Brewer, Levante Brewing Company, West Chester, PA.

“I think we’ll see more people reach for the everyday drinking beer over the lactose heavy version in 2020.” – Brendan Breslin, Head Brewer, Pottstown United Brewing Company, Pottstown, PA

“The trends are very hard to determine. I think Hazy IPA’s will continue to dominate, but hopeful that Pilsner will become a craft beer trend in 2020.” – Ryan Siez, Head Brewer, Warwick Farm Brewing, Jamison, PA

“There seems to be a lot of talk of Pilsners and West Coast IPA’s coming back, but I believe the current trends will continue in 2020. Juicy/Hazy IPA’s and Fruited Sours comprised 2 of the top 3 most entered categories at this years GABF. Additionally, even though it is not craft beer, I can see Seltzer affecting craft brewery sales in 2020.” – Eric Stubbs, Head Brewer, Rotunda Brewing Company, Anneville, PA

“More beers that taste less like beer. A fundamental revolution in providing the answer to the question, “What is beer?” – Jared Barnes, Co-Owner/Head Brewer, Collusion Tap Works, York, PA

“I would imagine that hazy beers will continue to be sought after, as well as hard seltzer’s continuing to grow. Personally, I think it would be awesome if traditional lagers and milder, lower ABV IPA’s and pale ales made a come back. – Logan Hartpence, Head Brewer, Lavery Brewing Company, Erie, PA

“…local and seasonally sourced brews will be a thing. Beer drinkers will always be on the lookout for something very special and small batch.” – Maryana Ferguson, Co-Owner/Brewer, Great Barn Brewery, New Hope, PA

“Hard seltzer.” – John Stemler, Co-Owner/Brewer, Free Will Brewing, Perkasie, PA

“This is a really tough one, especially with what we have seen just in 2019. From an overall industry perspective, I see a trend towards more brewery consolidation in the larger craft/regional breweries. Futhermore, I do see a continuing trend of beer drinkers favoring smaller-scale, locally made beer from breweries with a true quality offering.” – Nick Salkeld, Co-Owner/Brewer, Stick City Brewing Company, Mars, PA

“A lot of craft breweries will be closing…” – Sam Masotto, Co-Owner/Head Brewer, Bonn Place Brewing, Bethlehem, PA

“Tough to predict anymore honestly, but I hope to see some really well done classic ipas make a big come back and I expect to see people continue to push the envelope with experimentation and create unique twists on the classics as well.” – Tim Shaw, Owner/Brewer, Odd Logic Brewing, Bristol, PA

“I think the biggest trend in craft beer isn’t going to be beer at all. Hard seltzer is taking over and more and more small breweries are getting into it. As far as beer goes, I think we’ll continue to see breweries target non-craft drinkers and health conscious drinkers. A lot of light lagers are hitting the shelves in cans as well as low calorie/low carb beers in a wide variety of styles. On the other side of the spectrum, IPAs and stouts with insane amounts of adjunct aren’t going anywhere any time soon.” – Logan Ackerly, Head Brewer, Wallenpaupack Brewing Company, Hawley, PA

“…I think there will be even more culinary inspired ideas, which is hardly anything new…also more super-low ABV beers.” – Steve Ilnicki, Head Brewer, Spoonwood Brewing Company, Pittsburgh, PA

“…it would be much easier to predict what won’t be trending. One of which is Pastry Stouts, I already see it waning in 2019. I don’t think that hazy juice bombs are going away anytime soon, but I would certainly believe that lower alcohol or offshoots of the typical NEIPA will be trending. There are so many people doing hard seltzer that I would guess that area of beverage will morph quite a bit too, into new segments. Overall, I think a push towards traditional lagers is an eventuality but because of the tank space to time ratio that well made lagers mean to the bottom line in a small brewery, it will be difficult for a lot of us to ever make lagers a large portion of the overall portfolio.” – Jason Ufema, Owner/Head Brewer, Shy Bear Brewing, Lewistown, PA