Winter 2026, Issue 82
From the Editor
Jim Dykstra – Managing Editor
As another year settles to the trub, our Winter 2026 issue reflects on the defining moments of beer in 2025 and looks ahead to what’s coming next. From shifting consumer tastes to standout brews and enduring traditions, this edition captures both change and continuity. Welcome to The Beer in Review.
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Feature Stories
2026 Beer and Beverage Trends
Beer enters 2026 at a crossroads. This annual deep dive examines the forces reshaping beer and beverage culture, from consumer fatigue and functional drinking to NA growth, branding shifts, and evolving styles. What’s fading, what’s holding, and where real opportunity still exists.
Top Emerging Beer Style Trends for 2026
As tap lists evolve and drinker fatigue sets in, opportunity is shifting to styles that balance familiarity with freshness. This guide highlights the beer styles gaining traction heading into 2026—from revived classics to smart reinterpretations of modern favorites. A practical look at what drinkers are actually excited to order next.
The State of Craft 2026
The closing of iconic breweries signals more than a downturn—it marks the end of an era. This examination of craft beer in 2026 traces the industry’s shifting identity, from post-pandemic contraction to renewed focus on community, quality, and on-premise experience. Loss, realism, and cautious hope converge.
Breweries & Beer
Breweries & Beer
Top 100 Beers of 2025
This is our annual roll call of the best beers produced in 2025. Selected from the highest scores earned in single-blind judging, these brews represent craftsmanship at its peak, regardless of trend or category. One hundred reasons to raise a glass.
Best Breweries of 2025
Each year, we recognize the breweries that consistently delivered excellence in our Official Review. Based on cumulative scores from their highest-rated beers, these producers stood above the rest in 2025. Precision, balance, and stylistic mastery defined this year’s best.
