Beer

Beer

Since the advent of the craft beer revolution, great breweries have popped up in every corner of the United States, with almost 10,000 breweries operating in the country as of 2023. That's up from only around 90 in the '70s, when macrobrews like Budweiser and Coors were at their most dominant. Anheuser-Busch and Molson Coors still rule beer production in the country, with both brands controlling a little more than half of the U.S. market.

Much has been written about the acceleration of declines in beer during 2025 along with spirit ready-to-drink (RTD) growth and wine softness. In fact, Suntory and Pernod have/are establishing separate route-to-market organizations for RTD spirits. At the same time, ABI has become a major player in the space and emerging brands like Surfside are projecting more than 10 million cases for its business.

As we approach the close of 2025, Brewbound is calling for nominations for the Brewbound Awards 2025, our annual celebration of the beer companies, products, and people shaping the future of the industry. The awards will be presented during Brewbound Live, taking place December 5, 2025, in Marina del Rey, CA. As 2025 enters its final stretch, we invite you to nominate the standout brands, individuals, and innovations that deserve recognition.

The second rotational beer that Best Day has brought back as a core beer due to consumer feedback and demand, Galaxy Ripple is an out-of-this-world Imperial IPA with tropical notes and made with Galaxy Hops, the company says. This complex beer's bright, hoppy aroma and full-bodied malt sweetness are complemented by layered flavors of peach, pineapple, passion fruit and pine, it notes.

John Molson founded Canada's oldest brewery on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Montreal in 1786.

Fish and beer have a longstanding relationship. Beer-battered fish, fish and chips with a frosted pint; these combos are popular and a crowd favorite. But there's another collaboration between fish and beer that most people are unaware of - unless they know to look for it. We're talking about isinglass (or fish bladder), and no, you can't taste it in your ale. However, small traces of it are probably in your glass, depending on the brewery, and it's largely the reason for your beer's crisp, cloudless appearance.

"On weekends, there was often a boiling batch of beer in their house, and carboys lining their hallway bubbling away," Grossman recalls.

From the very beginning, Blue Moon built its flavor profile around Valencia orange peel, a choice that set it apart from other wheat beers on the market. Where most breweries leaned into coriander or spice, Blue Moon leaned into citrus, crafting a brew that was smooth, bright, and unmistakably refreshing. The garnish-originally an experiment to amplify those natural notes-quickly became more than an accessory. It became part of the brand's DNA, a visual cue that transformed a pint into an experience.

Alameda's already vibrant beer scene just got a little merrier with the addition of a new beer garden that recently debuted on Park Street. Called Park Station, the craft beer emporium is housed in the former Big O Tires shop at Park Street and San Jose Avenue and features plentiful outdoor seating, fire pits, heaters and even a stage. There's also a cavernous main indoor tap room and a side room for private events.

Voodoo Ranger, the popular IPA beer brand, has announced a partnership with 2K Games to create a special-edition Borderlands 4 IPA. The beer is called Voodoo Ranger x Borderlands 4 IPA, it comes in six-packs, and they're available across the US right now ( via BleedingCool). Each six-pack includes a QR code that offers up the chance to win a copy of Borderlands 4 and in-game "golden key" rewards.

Columbia Distributing leaders believe they've tapped into a pipeline for the next generation of beer industry workers. On the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, Columbia president and CEO Chris Steffanci, VP of sales, Portland Chris Watzig and former intern Rebecca Logan share the ins and outs of the Pacific Northwest distributor's Beer Careers Program. Watzig and Logan offer decades-apart experience of the 10-week paid internship program, which introduces participating students to all elements of Columbia's business and operations.

Since moving to the U.S., I've learned that being Irish here gives you automatic authority on all things Guinness. And while not every drunken-leprechaun stereotype is true, we do know a thing or two about stout. In case you're wondering, the way you pour it is so important that you can tell the difference between drafts in Ireland and abroad. And there is a proper way to sip a pint of Guinness.

Brimming with the spicy, slightly smokey flavour that marks the Hela condiment usually reserved for roadside sausages and chips, the beer is a strictly limited, special edition release. The Currydurst tests the limits of flavored beersImage: Astra Brauerei St Pauli GmbH St. Pauli's cult classic beer Astra is popular beer across Hamburg, but is mostly associated with the St. Pauli district, a working class and alternative culture hub where the city's port and red-light district meet.

The latest wins build on last year's triumph when Hawkstone Lager was crowned England's Best Lager. This year's medal haul spanned the full product range, underlining the brand's depth and consistency. Hawkstone IPA and Hedgerow each won Gold medals, Hawkstone Cider also secured Gold, while Hawkstone Session and Hawkstone Black picked up Silvers, and Hawkstone Lager and Hawkstone Vodka were each awarded Bronze.

Rupee Beer founders Van and Sumit Sharma believe they're ready to meet Indian cuisine's moment. On the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, the brothers share their journey of launching the Indian American beer brand during the COVID-19 pandemic as an add-on purchase at their family's restaurant. Today, Rupee has expanded distribution to 18 states most recently California and the Sharmas are readying for an explosion of Indian restaurants entering the U.S market.

What Is a Japanese Rice Lager? For those unfamiliar, a Japanese rice lager is exactly what it sounds like: a lager brewed with rice in the grain bill. The rice lightens the body, smooths out the flavor, and creates an exceptionally crisp finish. Think of it as the beer equivalent of clean lines and minimalist design-subtle, refreshing, and deceptively simple.

As the owner of R&R Brewing, Ryan Roberts maximizes value from every square foot of his property in pickle-famous Mount Olive, N.C.. He built a fenced-in yard for folks to grab BBQ and more from food trucks, ideally to enjoy with pints, but many people didn't venture inside the brewery. "That land still has taxes paid on it, so it's like, what can we do to make this dirt more valuable?" says Roberts, who opened R&R in 2018.

"Jack was truly an American original. Before him, starting a brewery from scratch was thought impossible. After him, 10,000 people have done it."

Martyn Cornell's book Porter and Stout: A Complete History, which covers 300 years and 56 countries, was published just three days after his death.

The Lakefront Brewery Biergarten at the Wisconsin State Fair will serve a variety of beers including Riverwest Stein, IPA, and Oktoberfest, alongside cocktails and mocktails.

Aldi's beer selection includes various types, such as hoppy IPAs, light lagers, fruit-splashed ales, and robust stouts, reflecting a global influence.

With no-alcohol beer sales rising, Heineken, Peroni, Estrella... they're all pushing their zero-proof suds like it's the next big thing.

Gose is a historic German ale in the sour category, brewed using lactic fermentation to create a tart, acidic flavor profile. What makes gose stand out from other sours is the addition of salt and coriander.

"That's what really multiplies anything that you have on the shelf," Krueger said, emphasizing the significance of retaining display and promotional space.