2026 Beer Predictions

In 2025, I drank a lot of beer, (like a lot of beer). Drinking so much beer and tasting a vast amount of different styles requires looking at many menus in taprooms, checking out keg lenses at pubs, and scouring bottle shops. Whilst procuring new brews, I spotted a few trends in what's selling and what other people seem to drink.

Although I am by no means an expert, here's my prediction of what beer trends we may see in 2026.

1. Dark Beer Bites Back

After around 10 years of IPA craze and very hoppy American versions of every style imaginable, I think it is finally time for something else to take the spotlight. The recent popularity of New England / Hazy IPAs already demonstrates that bitterness is not the be all and end all.

In the mainstream beer scene, younger drinkers last year posted their ‘G-Splits’ all over social media. Whilst ‘splitting the G’ is not a new thing, it’s hard to deny that the trend has been responsible for converting some to the cult of Guinness (there’s also been an upswing of Guinness merchandise sightings, but that’s another conversation). A 2025 Brand Finance article, on valuable Irish brands, found that 67% of 18–25-year-olds think Guinness is a ‘cool’ brand, up from 22% in 2023. In the same article, Brand Finance found that ‘consideration’ of the brand had increased by 10% among women; It is indeed a “Lovely Day for a Guinness”. Inevitably, what happens in the mainstream market will influence craft beer.

2. Sour Power

When I think of beers that my non-beer drinking friends enjoy, my mind immediately jumps to sours. A can of a fruit forward sour is often a good intro to beer for those that claim to despise it. Whenever I am told, "I just don't like beer," my first retort is, "have you tried all the styles?" Obviously not. A super sour candy-like beverage is not for everyone, but I see many new beer drinkers ordering sours. For proof of the rising popularity that nobody can deny, one only has to look at the growth of Edinburgh-based brewer Vault City, with a massive  38% surge in sales between December and April. Sour beers are by no means new. So-called 'modern sour beers' offer something a little more easy-drinking, than complex Belgian wild fermented beers for the average drinker. Sours are here to stay for the time being.

3. Maybe it's for the best (bitters)

Before you race to the comments to call me a hypocrite, let me explain. Although I started this list denouncing bitter brews, I predict that Best Bitter will have a resurgence in a big way this year. Best Bitter is lower in terms of IBU (International Bitterness Units). Ranging between 25–40, lower in comparison to American and English IPAs, which hit out at 40–70 and 40-60 comparatively, according to BJCP guidelines. Best Bitter has more complex caramel malt flavours and fruity esters to back it up, combined with a lower ABV, making it sessionable and less fatiguing on the palette. From my completely anecdotal observations from behind the bar, many young people are ordering what some would describe as an 'old man's drink'. One contributing factor could be the cost of living crisis in the UK. Just like everyone else, young people are feeling the effects of the lack of disposable income. Cask pints of session strength ale are often cheaper than most keg beer at similar strength, making it more cost-efficient to get drunk (please drink responsibly). Although I am happy to see young people with a love for cask, I hope the driving force isn't financial difficulties. I think that this trend is more regional than my other predictions. Like many people from the North West of England, the rediscovery of bitter forms a connection to family heritage, drinking what our grandfathers drank.

Ideally, I would've published this article at the beginning of the year, but better late than never I suppose? Follow along until the end of the year to see if my predictions pan out and see what we get up to in the meantime. Please feel free to tell me your 2026 beer predictions in the comments below, or why you think I'm wrong. Cheers to 2026!