From the Editor: Spring 2026 (Issue 83)

Howdy folks; it’s time for another issue of The Beer Connoisseur Magazine!

As we head into spring, beer season takes on a slightly different feel. The heavy, cold-weather pours begin to give way to lighter pints, patios fill back up, and drinkers start thinking a little differently about what they want in the glass, as well as what they want from the industry itself. That shift in mood makes this an especially fitting issue, because the stories inside are less about easy answers and more about the questions shaping beer right now.

We begin with a look at Japanese lagers by Seth Levy and the growing appeal of restraint. In an era when craft beer often rewards excess in all forms, these beers offer something different: balance, clarity, and a reminder that “more” is not always better. That idea of simplification carries into our next feature, by Ben Keene, which explores why some successful breweries are narrowing their focus, trimming their lineups, and proving that brewing less can sometimes mean achieving more.

From there, we turn to a profile by Owen Ogletree about one of the oldest traditions in beer: cask ale. Revered in Britain and admired by beer connoisseurs everywhere, cask ale (aka real ale) still carries a certain cachet. But admiration and profitability are not the same thing, and this issue asks a practical question: can American breweries truly make cask ale work as a business model, or is it destined to remain more of a passion project than a growth opportunity?

Then, Bil Corcoran digs into a debate that has only become more relevant as the beer world continues to evolve: should major beer brands have a place at craft beer festivals? It is a question that cuts to the heart of what “craft” still means, who gets to define it, and whether the boundaries that once seemed obvious have become harder to defend. Along similar lines, guest contributor Jodi Villa of Ceria Brewing Co. explores the language around non-alcoholic beer and the distinction between “non-alcoholic” and “alcohol-free,” a difference that might sound minor at first glance but matters more than ever as both consumer interest and market scrutiny continue to grow.

Elsewhere in the issue, we visit Dostal Alley thanks to an enjoyable story by Rachel Schmalz. This historic Colorado saloon sees casino culture and brewpub heritage collide in a way that feels both deeply local and uniquely American. Then, Jessie O’Brien takes on a story with long-term implications for the industry: college brewing program closures. Are these shutdowns a temporary correction, or a warning sign about where brewing education, and perhaps beer itself, is headed next? It is exactly the kind of question worth asking right now.

Of course, check out the newest beers in our Official Review as well as our Brewer Q&As, or get caught up on any breaking beer news you might have missed over the past few months.

We thank you for joining us for Issue 83, and hope the new season brings you joy (and great beer).

Cheers!

Chris Guest
– Managing Editor