With the temperature beginning to warm up outside,many people are interested in the state of the draft beer and craft beer industry. Much of that is going to be dictated by some of the biggest emerging trends this spring and summer, and there are a few important points that everyone should keep in mind.
There are a number of significant challenges facing the beer industry during the upcoming spring and summer seasons. One of the biggest challenges is lingering inflation. Due to the lack of supply chain shortages, the cost of many goods and services is on the rise. This includes much of the equipment used to bring beer to market, which could impact beer prices this summer.
In particular, product and packaging shortages will be a challenge in the beer industry. When compared to the ready-to-drink competition (RTD), such as canned and bottled beer, it is important for the industry to think about how it can adapt to remain relevant without driving customers away with rising prices.
Even though there are a lot of challenges facing the craft beer industry, it is a resilient area that is adapting quickly to overcome these obstacles and match the demands of consumers.
According to statistics published by The Brewer’s Association, there were more than 940 new breweries opened in 2019, bringing the number of craft breweries to 8,275 for that year. Furthermore, during that year, craft beer sales accounted for more than 13 percent of the total US beer market.
These numbers show that craft beer is growing at a quick pace. Consumers are becoming more adventurous, and they are happy with the adaptations that the industry is making to adapt to these challenges and make craft beer more affordable. With complex flavor profiles and numerous innovative changes coming to the industry, many people are interested in some of the biggest trends during the spring and summer this year.
There are several trends that people should keep their eyes open for this summer. First, consumers care more about where they spend their money than ever before. This includes the beer industry. They want to know that the money they give to companies will be used for a positive purpose. This means that consumers are willing to pay more for beer from companies that have values that align with theirs.
Consumers should also expect QR codes and contactless menus to be here to stay. Contactless menus became more popular during the coronavirus pandemic, and many breweries are looking for ways to cut overhead expenses. If they no longer need to print menus, they can pass these savings on to consumers, keeping the price of beer affordable.
Finally, consumers should also expect IPAs to continue to dominate the menu. Even though there are a lot of IPAs available, such as Imperial IPAs and New England IPAs, expect this category to remain on top.
With the weather warming up outside, it is important for beer providers to be prepared for the spring and summer rush. That is where our Beer Math calculator helps. Taking into account how much draft beer is poured every week, Beer Math combines it with information specific to the establishment and computes the total amount of beer that must be ordered. This can prevent establishments from over-ordering the wrong brands while still meeting the needs of customers. So you'll always have the right beer on tap, helping profits.