2012: The decline of HOPS, the rise of SOUR

After frequenting a popular craft beer establishment in the Kansas City area, creatively named Beer Kitchen No. 1, my friend and I were discussing our predictions for the craft beer market. Right now the hoppy brews are thriving, and in the utmost demand. But how long can this IPA craze sustain itself? Just like any industry, trends in the craft beer world come and go. We believe the least traveled path in the industry right now is sour beer. What the general public does not realize is how hard craft breweries are working to refine their sour beers in anticipation of this coming trend.

My only experience with sour beer was during a tour at the New Belgium Brewery, where I cautiously sipped on a La Folie from the Lips of Faith series. It was an unexpected, bitter, and somewhat pleasant taste.  Growing up I was always a fan of sour candy (Sour Patch Kids), although that most likely has no relevance to sour beer whatsoever. Sour beer is definitely an acquired taste just like a Double IPA or a Belgian Tripel. Currently, I believe this is the time for breweries to make their hop-centric beers more refined and well known before sour beers become the new territory that craft beer lovers want to explore. It is weird to think that IPAs could possibly become the Old World, while Columbus' ships have already started to sail the ocean blue in search of sour beer...