Early Summer 2026, Issue 84
From the Editor
Chris Guest – Managing Editor
As summer gets underway, Issue 84 explores the pressures and pleasures shaping beer right now. From outdated brewing tech and craft beer conglomerates to THC beverage crackdowns, automatic price hikes, and Pinthouse Brewing’s Electric Jellyfish, this edition looks at an industry balancing tradition, disruption, and survival. We also spotlight Brewery Ommegang’s Rare Vos and Firestone Walker’s Wookey Jack, because amid all the business noise, the beer still has to taste damn good. Thanks for joining us!
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Opinions
What Role (if any) Did Hazy IPAs Play in the Current Craft Beer Downturn?
Hazy IPAs go on trial in this look at whether craft beer’s juiciest crowd-pleaser helped fuel the downturn, or simply became the easiest suspect in the room.
Getting Over Your Fear of Commitment: Why We Should Be More Loyal to the Beers We Love
This ode to reliable beer favorites makes the case for ignoring FOMO, revisiting old friends, and remembering that a great pint does not need to be brand-new.
The “Stone Age” Tech Holding Back Modern Brewing
This story digs into beer filtration’s ancient backbone, where diatomaceous earth still does the dirty work despite real questions about waste, water, worker safety, and sustainability.
Feature Stories
How Pinthouse Brewing’s Electric Jellyfish Captured America’s Palate Without Leaving Central Texas
Pinthouse Brewing’s Electric Jellyfish gets a proper look as the Austin IPA that became a Texas calling card: hazy, citrusy, deeply local, and famous without needing to be everywhere.
Craft Beer Conglomerates: The New Middle Tier Reshaping American Craft Brewing
Craft beer conglomerates enter the spotlight as the industry’s messy middle tier: bigger than indie, smaller than Big Beer, and complicated enough to make every pint philosophical.
The End Of Automatic Price Hikes In Beer
Beer’s old pricing playbook finally hits the wall in this look at rising costs, shrinking patience, and why value may matter more than brand swagger now.
From Lifeline to Liability: The Looming Crackdown on THC Beverages
THC beverages go from lifeline to liability as breweries face regulatory uncertainty, a looming federal deadline, and one more reminder that fast-growing categories rarely stay simple.
Breweries & Beer
World Class Beer Highlight: Firestone Walker Wookey Jack
Firestone Walker’s Wookey Jack gets its due as one of Black IPA’s great standard-bearers: gnarly, rye-spiced, roast-kissed, and happily back from the dead.
World Class Beer Highlight: Brewery Ommegang Rare Vos
Brewery Ommegang’s Rare Vos gets the World Class Beer Highlight treatment as a strange, elegant Belgian-style classic: spiced, smooth, quietly complex, and built for time, conversation, and one more return to the glass.
Official Review
Our certified tasting panel evaluates standout beers from around the world, offering detailed notes, scores, and insights for discerning drinkers.
