What's brewing? International beer trends

From food pairings to the latest craft movement, HN uncovers beer trends that have got us foaming at the mouth 9 INTERNATIONAL BEER TRENDS

Adrianjudges of Tierney-jones,the World Beer chairman Awards, of offers a globalwithin the perspective industry on what’s taking shape 1. India pale ale: The influence of the American craft beer revolution continues. 2. Authentic lager: A move towards lagers that are influenced by German or Czech traditions. 3. Barrel-aging: Beers that spend time in a variety of barrels, including whisky and bourbon. 4. Sour beers: I was recently talking at a craft beer conference in Peru and brewers there showed interested in making sours. 5. Rediscovery of old recipes: Similar to the Guinness and Carlsberg brands’ approaches. 6. Fruit IPAS: The addition of fruit to IPA.

7. Moderating consumption: The growing sales of Radlers, shandies and low-alcohol beers and the recent relaunch of Bud Lite in the UK shows that some drinkers are moderating consumption.

8. Reach non-traditional consumers:

Brewers have realized that they can reach out to non-traditional beer drinkers, such as women, therefore advertising has moved away from the masculine side of things.

9. Low-alcohol varieties:

We have to differentiate between low alcohol and non-alcohol. Low-alcohol (say 0.5 percent) has more chance of succeeding than the non-variety, especially since low alcohol has more taste. Twenty years ago, non-alcohol beers in the UK were seen as a joke; there was one called Kaliber, which I recall just tasted like wort - malty and sweet. So maybe there is a branding/ lifestyle element of low-alcohol that nonalcohol varieties don’t have. In the Middle East, non-alcohol beers are popular in countries where alcohol is banned.

ABOUT ADRIAN TIERNEY-JONES

The Uk-based journalist writes about beer, food, pubs and travel. He also contributes to many magazines and newspapers and has written many books, including the best-selling 1001 Beers You Must Try Before You Die and his latest, The Seven Moods of Craft Beer.