5 Beer Industry Trends to Watch in 2023

Keeping up with what happens on the market is an essential part of running a successful business. This is especially important for the brewing industry – the pandemic and the war in Ukraine brought many economic changes that affected the trends in the beer industry. This is why we come with help in the form of a list of 5 beer industry trends in 2023.

What are the top brewing industry trends in 2023?

Knowing what’s going on in the industry is crucial, but don’t worry – our list of 5 current trends in the beer industry is here to help!

1. A demand for stronger beers

This is an especially interesting trend for craft-beer producers. Due to the economic changes and shrinking disposable income, customers are paying more attention to the value of the products – in this case the % of alcohol. This trend forces the beer industry to brew stronger beverages, as consumers can easily verify the alcohol content in the products. This also proves that for many consumers the main aspect worth considering while buying a beer is its power, and the taste only comes second.

2. Smaller brands are shrinking

Many companies brew several brands of beer – some of the most popular, as well as those less known. However, in 2023 you may observe a tendency to drop the smaller brands. This beer industry trend may result from the high competition in retail – it’s easier to attract customers with recognizable brands, so the unknown ones fade into oblivion.

3. E-commerce is developing

While the standard selling channels are still a major part of the beer industry, a trend to invest in e-commerce is becoming more and more visible. This is a consequence of the social changes that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consumers tend to buy groceries online more often than before, therefore it is not surprising that they purchase beer through the same channels. Yet, this increases the importance of digital marketing and search engine optimization – more customers will look for beer online, thus a new rivalry may emerge between the e-commerce beer stores.

4. Breweries and their carbon dioxide problem

With the increased costs and reduced availability of the carbon dioxide, breweries need to look for this vital part of their beverages in other sources. This brewing industry trend is often indicated by different solutions – some breweries switch to the old methods of spunding, other assemble special equipment to reuse the carbon dioxide coming from their processes and store it. The creativity and willingness of the breweries to come up with an answer to this issue, shows how important it is at the moment for the whole industry.

5. Alcohol-free beer segment is growing

The growth of the alcohol-free segment is a beer industry trend that was observed before, but is still strong. Whether it’s the growing awareness among drivers, pregnant women and nursing mothers, or the general tendency to switch to healthier beverages, the non-alcoholic beer industry has been flourishing. While different forecasts vary in data, all agree that the alcohol-free beer market will grow by more than 6% per year, for at least the next 5 years. So if you are running a brewery, it might be worth investing in this particular segment.

The takeaway

There are many new and ongoing trends in the beer industry in 2023. From stronger beers, through shrinking of the smaller brands, to developing e-commerce and building strong alcohol-free segments. Adapting to these trends is a must – otherwise, you might lose the race with your competitors.

And if you are curious about the ins and outs of the beer industry, learn why conical stainless steel fermenting tanks are the brewing standard.