Wicked GABF Hangover and What We Learned - October 20, 2022

Just Tapped (Top Stories)

Other Than a Wicked Hangover, What Did We Take Away From the 2022 GABF?

The Great American Beer Festival recently announced the list of medal-winning breweries and beers. This year 2,154 breweries submitted 9,904 beers for judging. All 50 states, plus DC and Puerto Rico, were represented in this year’s competition. The judges awarded 300 medals across 98 beer categories (plus a couple pro-am categories). On average, each style category had 99 entrants.

More than a festival and a beer-judging competition, the GABF is a snapshot of a moment in time for the craft beer industry. Compare that moment with previous moments and we see trends. Well, possible trends anyway.

So, what did we take away from the 2022 GABF? Just like the bleary fog in our bloodshot eyes, the haze is clearing across the American craft beer landscape. Since it was given its own style category in 2018, Juicy or Hazy IPA has reigned as the most-entered category at the GABF. This year, American-Style IPA regained the lead, as the chart above shows.

In 2018, there was a rush to the Hazy or Juicy IPA category, at least as far as GABF entries are concerned; likewise, that same irrational exuberance was a trend that swept across the American craft brewing industry in general. Have we now turned a corner? Is the craze calming? Personally, when I visit taprooms and craft-focused bars these days, the word hazy seems less abundant on beer menus. Whatever the case, IPA clearly continues to drive the industry. (See what I did there?) Down at the bottom of this message, we have a poll about hazies.

An Even Bigger Number 1

A lot of people buy beer at grocery stores. In fact, the “food category” ranks second behind the “convenience category” in terms of scan data. While I prefer to peruse the aisles at the local bottleshop or specialty store, there’s no denying that a lot of beer, and hence a lot of craft beer, is moved through less sexy channels, like convenience stores and grocery stores.

The number 1 and 2 standalone grocery store chains in the U.S. recently announced a plan that would significantly impact the grocery industry. Kroger and Albertsons agreed to a $25 billion merger deal. The resulting company will control approximately 5,000 stores nationwide: Albertsons, Safeway, Fred Meyer, and Ralphs all under the Kroger tent.

The announcement raised a lot of eyebrows, which is not surprising given the scope of the deal. Kroger understood that its plan to buy Albertsons would attract some scrutiny. Straight away, to ease antitrust concerns, the companies said that before the deal is closed they plan to divest some stores and that Albertsons was ready to create some stand-alone stores. Now the U.S. Senate wants to take a look at the deal and has scheduled a hearing next month.

If the deal goes through, and the big dog at the top of the food chain gets even bigger, how will it impact the craft beer industry? Time will tell.

News Around the Web

• A scientific breakthrough invovling yeast promises to make beer taste even better than it already does.

• A judge dismissed an investors lawsuit claiming New Glarus Brewing underpaid them when the company sold a portion of ownership in 2019.

• New report from the UK shows that government policy caused a boom in the number of small breweries and a huge increase in the number of different styles being brewed.

Beer Nuts - Trivia and Diversions

Want your favorite sportsball team to win a championship? It'll cost you. As the NBA tips off its new season, conference champs Boston and Golden State will charge over $17 for a pint of beer, the highest prices for beer at any arenas in the league. Meanwhile, in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers finished in the middle of the pack last year, you’ll pay just over $5.00 for a pint. (Read more about NBA beer prices here.)

Tales from the Taproom

Got a tale to tell? We're here to listen, but keep it brief. Maybe we'll share your story here.

Geek Speak

With the introduction of thiolized yeast, you’re going to want to get familiar with the term thiol precursors. As in, “We used Cascade hops in the mash to maximize thiol precursors.” In simplest terms, thiols (found in tropical fruits, grapes, hops, and some other stuff) are highly impactful aroma compounds that evoke fruity, tropical flavors. They exist in both free form and precursor form. Some hop varietals, but not all hop varietals, are high in free form thiols, which accounts for their characteristic fruity profile. Other hops (and even barley) offer thiols in their precursor form, but this kind of thiol needs some help to add oomph to your brews. To learn all about thiols and thiolized yeast, check this out.

Firkin Finance

According to a report from Bump Williams Consulting, the average price per case of craft beer is up +4.6% year-to-date and “continues creeping into the $40+ per case range.” The report cites data, through October 1, 2022, from NielsenIQ. The report also noted that the average price paid per unit is up +2% compared to a year ago. Read more about the report on Brewbound.

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