With 2025 upon us, craft beer, and the beverage industry at large, continue to grapple with changing consumer tastes as well as a hugely saturated market that’s flush with all manner of delectable boozy beverages.
From the omnipresent IPA to an expanding array of thirst-quenching lagers, the beer landscape is more diverse than ever. As such, let’s go on a sojourn to discover the top trending beer styles for 2025. There is sure to be something here that wets your whistle and whets your appetite for top-tier brews.
Schwarzbier
As has been the case for a few years now, lagers are quite the hot ticket among craft beer connoisseurs and craft beer brewers. It turns out that the most popular beer style around the world – made famous by massive megabrewers spread across multiple continents – is still a major player in the more niche craft beer market as well.
In 2025, expect lagers in the craft beer sphere to branch out and open up lager fans to more intriguing styles, such as this German dark lager with a rich, malty backbone coupled with the easy-drinking nature of a lager.
Malt flavors should be roasty yet smooth in this easy drinker. The lack of a heavy aftertaste – something that is commonplace in some dark beers – means that this dark lager style is supremely quaffable, which is surely an important factor when drinking a lager.
Commercial Examples: Dark by The Alchemist, Shell by Halfway Crooks Beer, Black Lager by Frequentum Brewing Co., Black Bavarian by Sprecher Brewing Co., Goodnight Munich by Liquid Gravity Brewing Co.
Czech Lager
From one lager to another, Czech Lager is sure to be an up-and-coming craft style in 2025. While you are more likely to see American Lagers, German Lagers (such as Pilsners) and Mexican-style Lagers on store shelves and in craft brewery taprooms, Czech Lagers are an up-and-coming style that are equally as refreshing and delicious as those more common styles.
Czech Lager is also an engaging style due to its variety, as it has four different substyles per the Beer Judge Certification Program: Czech Pale Lager, Czech Premium Pale Lager, Czech Amber Lager and Czech Dark Lager.
