For the last few years, with spoke with PA brewers and owners about what they felt would be the biggest craft beer trends in the upcoming year. See their beer predictions for 2020, and also predictions for 2021. Some came true, some didn’t.
We polled some PA brewers and owners again to get their thoughts on craft beer trends and what they see coming up in 2022. With a large number of breweries in this state, brewers are pushing the limits and crafting new delicious brews and styles, so their answers give great insight from the producers themselves.
Here is what they believe will happen, from more lagers (again) and traditional styles to lower ABV beers and fewer seltzers, read what they have to say!
“I’d predict we see hazy IPAs begin to taper off just a bit as consumers seek more diversity in their options. Make no mistake, hazies will be a key product in any breweries’ flagship line up, but I think from here on out, we’re going to see other styles become heroes too and it’ll be market-specific.” – Ben Butler, Founder of Necromancer Brewing Company
“I don’t see Hazy IPA’s going anywhere, but I do think we’ll see customers starting to branch out and explore other types of IPA’s. I believe flavorful, expressive, and low ABV lagers are going to continue to become increasingly popular. We live in PA where lager is king, and we have some great breweries making quality lagers. I think 2022 is going to be the year of moving away from highly adjunct beers. The rise of local and craft lagers is evidence of that movement.” – Ryan Seiz, Brewmaster of Warwick Farm Brewing
“Continued Raising of Public Expectations – I think for a long time that being local was good enough to be a successful brewery. I think those times were changing and then amplified by COVID. Breweries mostly produced on the same levels (or more) than they were before anything changed. Many of the breweries that are seen as top-level regional breweries lost their on-site sales and needed a blowoff valve. Now the shelves are stocked with these breweries, who now sit next to beer that was once seen as quality, and now doesn’t quite stand up. It’s going to be a good while before this goes away, and it’s going to be a weird world for the breweries until things settle out. The good news is that this is a win for the consumer. The breadth of choices they have at retail and in taprooms is far beyond what it’s even been, and I do believe that this will only continue their knowledge and expectation. Breweries will either step up to raise their game or fall off. A rising tide raises all ships, and I do think that this is a win for our industry.
A Call Back to Simplicity – I know that every year we say that lagers are making a comeback. This year I was lucky enough to pour at Other Half’s Pastrytown, where there was a “Hydration Station”. It was a section of the event dedicated to the top lager producing breweries in the country, and at an event dedicated to excess, that section was busy the entire time. Lagers consistently rule the volume in our taproom, sharing space right next to some of the over-the-top fruited sours that we are known for. My one wish for the year is for those who are into craft beer for the excess to begin to appreciate (and rate accordingly) the balance, time, and skill that goes into making a well-made lager. “ – Ben Little, Head Brewer of Fourscore Beer Company
“The end of 2021 saw a pick up in the demand for lagers. We expect that to continue in 2022 especially when we get to the warmer months.” – Jake Howell, Head Brewer/Co-Owner of Second Sin Brewing
“I think we will see a focus on lighter styles and lighter ABV-type beers.” – Ben Steffen, Owner/Brewer of Arboretum Trail
“Fruited west coast IPA with East coast hop schedule. And I’m feeling like hoppy seltzer will be a thing.” – PJ Williams, Head Brewer/Operations Director of Bull Frog Brewery
“I think we are going to drift back towards the extra juicy/juiced beers. Pulling away from seltzers.” – Jonathan Patton, Co-owner/Brewer of Iron Pint Brewing
“Hop Terpenes” – Jason Yahnke, Co-owner/Director of Operations of Acclamation Brewing Company
“I think hazy beers will continue to be quite popular, but we will also hopefully see a gradual shift to more sessionable, traditional styles as well.” – Logan Hartpence, Head Brewer of Lavery Brewing Company
“Beers brewed with Pennsylvania grown hops!!! Pennsylvania has some awesome hop growers with quality hops products, worthy of brewing world-class beers. I fully advocate for brewers to visit their local hop farms.” – Jason Simmons, Head Brewer of Lindgren Craft Brewery
“I think we’ll continue to see IPAs dominate the market with an increase in lower ABV offerings filling the hard seltzer void, hopefully of the lager variety.” – Matty Snyder, Head Brewer of Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
“Hopefully a willingness for craft beer supporters to step out of their comfort zone, there’s a huge pallet of beers to be enjoyed!” – Basil Kershner, Co-Owner/Brewer of Brothers Kershner Brewing Co.
“More Loggers” – Zach Waltz, Owner/Head Brewer of Union Brothers Brewing
“Continue to work to drive innovation with new innovative styles (Sours, Stouts, NEIPAs, & whatever else comes into play) while doing our best to perfect our take on classic styles (Lagers, Belgians, Wilds, Dark & Roasty, Bright & Hoppy…etc!)” – Kenny Rampolla, Co-owner of Lost Tavern Brewing
“Every year I say “I hope to hell it’s a return to lagers” and I am thinking that, maybe, just maybe, 2022 could be the year. However, given the shortages looming, I’ll say a return to 12oz cans haha.” – Mike LaCouture, Co-owner of Broken Goblet
“RTDs / Ready-to-drink cocktails. Due to the PLCB’s laws, these haven’t really taken off in the state. However, I think a lot of breweries will get into them over the next year.” – Matt Gilberg, Production Manager of Levante Brewing Company
