With 2017 looming around the corner, it’s as good a time as any to take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about all that happened this year is the world of booze. God knows there were plenty of reasons to drink this year, but for a quick recap, here is a list of the top beer and booze trends of 2016:
The hyper-localization of beer. Brews are growing more and more local, as small, craft breweries are popping up everywhere. Places like Trillium and Bissell Brothers are selling their products directly to consumers as fast as they can make it, and there seems to be no shortage of beer lovers willing to wait.
Bottled Cocktails. What was once considered a gimmick has now become commonplace in bars everywhere. Premixed cocktails, like Bully Boy Bottled Old Fashioned and Hochstadter’s Slow and Low Rock & Rye are here to stay.
Rye Whiskey. Rye was the most commonly drank libation in the early colonies, and for years, marketers have been trying to publicize it as America’s Whiskey. In the past few years however, Rye has increasingly become the drink of choice for whiskey nerds everywhere. It’s popularity continues to grow.
The New England IPA. Everybody knows that IPA’s have become arguably the most popular style of beer among both craft lovers and everyday beer drinkers alike. This year, in an offshoot of the IPA craze, the New England IPA has really taken off. Typically unfiltered and wildly fruity, this new IPA trend is a welcome change from the hop-bombed, ultra-bitter ale’s we’ve known.