If pressed to guess the next great beer trend, odds are close to nil that hot beer would rank among the most popular prognostications.

And yet, here we are, amid the unpredictability of the early 2020s, and hot beer is not only available, but gaining popularity across the country.

Markets in Indiana and Oregon, and breweries from Chicago to Denver are mulling beer with citrus, honey and spices to create cozy concoctions that are perfect for dispelling the cold and spreading seasonal cheer, perfect for springtime.

“Traditions are very much part of the holidays,” says Jenny Pfafflin, Marketing & Creative Manager/Brewer at Dovetail Brewery in Chicago. “I think that's what makes mulled beer so appealing. It's something that you can look forward to during this time of year”

Dovetail started serving mulled beer in Christmas 2018 with Glühkriek, their signature warm brew. Tart and refreshing and a little sweet and wholesome, “it’s been popular since it came out,” says Pfafflin.

Warming beer, especially in colder months and climes, has been an important part of brewing history. While that knowledge is all but forgotten stateside, nations across Europe still revere their local takes on warm beer.

There is always something newsworthy taking place in the beer industry. That's why we dedicate Monday of each week to publishing the top stories from the previous week in our Industry News e-newsletter. Here you'll find a compilation of all the news we've covered since the last issue, with links to the full stories.

Industry & People

Monster Beverage Buys CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective

We saddled up with the masterminds behind the highest rated brews and asked them about the inspiration behind the recipes. Follow the links below to the individual Q & A's, or you may access Q & A's from all editions here.

Spring 2022, Issue 59

Arches Brewing Co-Founder Jeff Dake Talks Sprezzatura

Arches Brewing Co-Founder Jeff Dake Talks Yurei

Judging Process
Our reviews are conducted in a single-blind tasting format. This method provides the best opportunity to rely on facts and to avoid favoritism, insuring a level playing field for all brewers. It serves both the industry and the consumer to have unbiased and objective scores from qualified experts. To best implement this approach, the Judges Review is open to those with established experience as a Master Cicerone® from the Cicerone® Certification Program or as a judge that has accomplished the rank of National or higher from the Beer Judge Certification Program. In the single-blind tasting format, judges are presented with a chilled, properly poured beer and given its style category. Scoring is then done on the following basis using a 100-point scale:

Score Breakdown:
100 to 96: World Class – You need this beer in your life.
95 to 91: Exceptional – Don’t hesitate.
90 to 86: Very Good – A brew to savor.
85 to 75: Average – Somewhat unimpressive.
74 and below: Not Recommended – Just walk away.

World Class (100 to 96)