Last year with spoke with PA brewers about what they felt would be the biggest craft beer trends in 2020. Some came true, some didn’t.
So we decided to poll some PA brewers again, with owners as well, to get their thoughts on trends, and where they see the industry headed for 2021. With the large number of breweries in this state, brewers push the limits and constantly craft new delicious brews, so their answers give great insight from the producers themselves.
Here is what they believe will happen, from more lagers and traditional styles to the (hopeful) return of people at the bar, read what they have to say!
“Good question. I don’t think haze is going anywhere, and we’re hitting that note from all angles. We have Haze Charmer Hazy Pale Ale year-round, as well as Lucky Holler IPA and Hop Cyclone Double IPA in the fall.
As far as what we’ll be brewing, we’ll stick to what we always do – following our curiosity, testing and iterating on our Scratch systems, and sharing our work with our customers.
What I’m really hoping to see is pretty simple: the return of people getting together to enjoy a few beers. It’s a Covid world now, and everyone has been in survival mode. So first thing’s first, we’re looking forward to the return of restaurants, concerts, block parties, all that stuff. Hopefully, by Memorial Day or maybe midsummer, we’ll see some return to normalcy around that.” – John Troegner – Co-owner/Head brewer of Troegs Independent Brewing
“I would think that hazy, juicy beers will remain super popular and hard seltzers will continue to gain momentum.” – Logan Hartpence, Head brewer of Lavery Brewing Company.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say trend, but I do think that low abv options will continue to command increased market share. Whether it be lagers and other traditional styles, or Petite NE IPAs, we’ll continue our work to convince consumers that they’re worth drinking. We don’t make them and never will, but I can see wacky ‘seltzers’ continuing their astronomical ascent as well.” – Andrew Witchey, Owner/Head Brewer of Dancing Gnome.
“2021, everyone will be struggling and the whole hospitality industry will in a state of change, all fighting to get back to the way things were. Hopefully, that will happen, but changes are already taking place. I think that the biggest trend in the industry will be Mergers and Acquisitions by brewers. Brewers will be in trouble, and rather than give up on what they have worked so hard to establish and grow, there will be mergers and acquisitions of breweries and brands. Brewers have always worked together and have respected each other and it would be natural for them to team up and make something better and stronger. Look for creative and collaborative changes.” – Tom Kehoe, Owner of Yards Brewing Company
“It is always difficult to say overall, but I think that throughout 2020 we have seen people head back to old favorites and some more sessionable beers, while still getting excited about any new flavor-forward offerings that have fruit, lactose, or other interesting ingredients in them. Into next year, I think we will continue to see trends leaning toward the “hazy” IPA side of things, as well as the assorted “dessert”-style kettle sours and stouts. I can, however, already see drinkers refinding appreciation for less sweet pale ales and IPAs that have a nice structured bitterness, as well as craft lagers. We shall see what the year will hold and what sort of beers people will choose to gravitate toward.” – Derek Lutz, Head Brewer of Lost Tavern Brewing
“Based on what we saw in 2020 with the growth in our seasonal lager segment, I think lagers will continue to grow in popularity. In addition, I think sours and low-cal IPA’s will both continue to trend upward in 2021.” – Becky Ryman, Owner of Wallenpaupack Brewing Company
“I’m sure this won’t happen, but I’m holding out hope for the trend to turn to those crispy bois. And not dry-hopped pilsners, not heavily adjunct driven versions, just simple and clean beers.” – Jay Grosse, Co-owner of Broken Goblet Brewing.
“The biggest trends I see will continue to be more diversification from IPAs for those who already are diversified, and the other breweries who are banking on IPAs as their identity will continue to do so. Hopefully wild and mixed fermented sours will start to become more of a thing as we’re banking on that for our own future endeavors.” – Jason Ufema, Owner of Shy Bear Brewing.
“In 2021 you’ll see an even greater abandonment of highly adjunct laden beers by the early adopters of these styles. They are still going to be popular, perpetuated by an abundance of newcomers to craft beer, but the balance of popularity will continue to shift towards lower ABV styles such as lagers and pilsners and cleaner, less overtly complicated IPAs.” – James Adams, Co-Owner of Levante Brewing Company.
“Well, I’m hoping draft beer/on-premise consumption is the biggest growing craft beer trend in 2021. Style-wise, I can’t say I see a whole lot changing. Perhaps an increase in the craft light lager market? Either way, it’s going to be an interesting year. Could see a lot of breweries fighting for market share as package demands shift again, or just focusing on finding a new equilibrium post-pandemic.” – Matt Snyder, Head Brewer of Weyerbacher Brewing Company
“Fingers crossed that things may return to “normal”. Hopefully, with the mass population becoming vaccinated, people will return to our businesses for onsite consumption. But I also don’t think that packaged beer will be going away any time soon. 4 packs of cans are just so versatile that the need will remain, if not increase next year. All I can say is that I hope 2021 doesn’t say to 2020 to “hold my beer.” – Brooks Hemauer, Owner/Head Brewer of Hemauer Brewing
“Hazy IPA will continue to be king, but some other styles will become more popular. I think quality lagers will continue to rise in popularity due to how crisp and flavorful they are. Pilsner and Helles are two styles that have become two of our more popular styles in 2020.” – Ryan Seiz, Co-owner/Head Brewer of Warwick Farm Brewing
“I think we’ll still see a lot of people wanting fruit and hops, but hoping we’ll see the return of vegetable beer.” – Jason Ranck, Head Brewer of Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company
“Ummm, hopefully not seeing more breweries close?!? Let’s start there. But beyond that, I think we are going to see some changes in what breweries are offering. I’ve already started to see a swing back towards some more traditional styles, and I hope that that continues. I think the West Coast IPA will become a fan-favorite once again. I mean it didn’t really ever leave, but it certainly hasn’t gotten the love like its hazy cousins to have in recent years. Other styles I’m seeing styles pop up that brewer friends have reported doing well are things like Dark Mild, Munich Dunkel, and some British style beers. Hell, we released an ESB and a White Russian-style Pastry Stout on the same day and sold more ESB than pastry stout. In what world does that happen?!? It’s a 2020 miracle. Weird times y’all. But I’m here for it. And you should be too.” – Hannah Gohde, Head Brewer of Naked Brewing Company
“Man, I hope like hell it’s folks putting elbows back on the bars in taprooms while they consume whatever it is that elevates their social experience. Regardless of our level of captivity, I’m pretty sure we haven’t seen the end of the seemingly never-ending arms race of ridiculous adjunct beers. Could this be the year of peak “beetus beers” and we begin to see the glimmer of hope that is the return of lagers as the next escalation of appreciation?
I think a major shift in consumer education would have to take place to bring that into reality. Beer culture is kind of a cesspool of misinformation and quality seems to be measured in whether or not if something you ate as a kid in your footed jammies while watching cartoons was dumped in and bonus points if it can be slurped down with a spiderman spoon while reading the copyright theft on the label. Nah, I think the pastry, puree, and lactose will continue their market trajectory, the haze will continue to get better with continued market saturation, Seltzer fizzles – but not out, and lager will have some marginal resurgence that sees some beautiful beer-flavored beers in that area from a variety of less visible players. I can only hope…” – Neil Glausier, Co-owner/Head Brewer of Burgh’ers Brewing
“Hazys, Fruited Sours, and Hard Seltzers are going to continue to dominate, however, I think there is a movement back towards clean, less adjunct heavy beers. Craft beer consumers’ quarantine rations were heavy with hazy IPA’s this year, so I could see them looking for something different in the new year.” – Brian Eaton, Co-owner of Grist House Craft Brewery
