State of Beer Episode 4: Changing Tastes in Craft Beer

As times change, so do tastes, flavor profiles, and preferences within the craft beer industry. I think we all can remember the increase in popularity in IPA style beers and now I feel like we are watching the rise of desire for nonalcoholic beers.

Breweries in Northern Colorado are always working to balance these changing tastes while also keeping the heart and soul behind their flavors, brands, and NOCO brewery culture as a whole. This means always thinking of new flavor combinations, adjusting hops, flavors, and collaborations while staying true to who they are. For some breweries, like Odell Brewing who have a strong history, the call can even be to re-release old beers like Five Barrel Pale Ale.

For others like Gilded Goat Brewing it means supporting the industry in safely creating more nonalcoholic options, which can be challenging for small local breweries to do effectively and safely.

At the end of the day, these shifts are not about chasing trends but about listening to the community and evolving alongside it. Northern Colorado breweries continue to show that innovation and tradition can coexist, creating space for both nostalgia and new ideas in every pint.