As kids start fantasizing about their parents on TikTok, we’re seeing the trend already reach sub-6 feet.According to this index, the estimated time of death for beer passengers is approximately beginning of 2023.
However, once the ubiquitous wooden paddle (or skateboardor guitaror metal basket) Holds a 4 oz tasting pour. Discussions about beer flights heat up every few years within the craft beer community.On the other hand, air tickets Causes headaches for staff and Serving carefully brewed beer in plain light. On the other hand, craft beer is also seen as a tool for exploration, a symbol of craft beer’s approachable spirit. While everything is changing now, taproom aesthetics As far as the range of products offered by a typical brewery, this debate has taken on new weight.
Craft beer is maturing. Many breweries tend to stop being generalists and instead focus on a narrower range of styles. or even a single one. A handful of delicately nuanced lagers won’t require a sampler board. And the brewers who painstakingly craft these lagers miss out on those nuances in a jumble of a few quick sips, rather than pouring large quantities in small quantities to properly express the beer’s goodness. I don’t want that. Consumers have also matured. actual, Current stagnation in the industry The reason is that craft beer no longer enjoys a shiny new position. It’s no longer a hotbed of discovery fueling a boom in brewery openings. This is just another beverage category where consumers often prefer authenticity and quality over novelty.
That said, craft beer cannot survive without a concerted effort to continue engaging with consumers and forging meaningful connections with the latest generation of legal drinkers. That means there’s always a potential audience. it’s not You already have a lot of knowledge. The beer escapism debate pits the need for craft beer to evolve against this persistent need for inclusive access. Of course, there’s also the question of whether this flight is the best and most practical way to educate consumers.
in Fe La Force Brewing Nashville, Tenn.-based founder Parker Loudermilk agrees that reduced flight times challenge the ideal taproom environment, built on interaction between staff and patrons and intentional conversations about beer. I feel that I am giving. It’s also simply a logistical decision. Flight operations require additional storage for storing glasses and flight boards.
“It means sacrificing something else to make space,” says Loudermilk. “We decided to prioritize what we think makes for the best beer experience: the right glass.”
Glasses that match the style of beer are proof of the maturity of craft beer. Breweries can emphasize their style with traditional containers, like Stage’s Kölsch, or seek to enhance the aroma of their beer with more recent developments, like Stage’s IPA. Spiegelau IPA glass. Why throw all four different beer styles into a unified taster?
“You can’t experience a beer the way it was meant to be served by a master bartender, in a big mug or a beautifully bubbly glass,” says Colin Lenfesti, founder and director of brewing and blending. Holy Mountain Brewing Company In Seattle. “We have a variety of beers, but serving them in small glasses is not enough.”
of philadelphia human robotis highly regarded as a lager-forward brewery and is a great example of how airmail doesn’t fit in with the beer programs and branding of many modern breweries. With the aim of offering consumers the nuances of traditional European lagers, co-founder Jake Atkinson says airmail was never a consideration. The plan was always to provide “the right glassware, the right pour, the right everything.”
The aforementioned Fait La Force and Holy Mountain both offer a tap list of 10-15 strong beers, each carefully curated with a selection of suitable glasses. While some breweries, such as those that tend to pour large quantities of high-alcohol beers, still enjoy the benefits of air travel, brewers are still trying to make their own beers available to guests so they can continue to enjoy them. The company chooses to offer small portions such as 6-ounce servings and half-pints. You can discover beer without having to pour it all the way.
Some pro-plane proponents of the debate argue that there is educational value in allowing people to sample multiple beers at once. As you might imagine, it’s not just stalwart breweries taking this stance.Like a new brewery Talea Beer Co., Ltd.opened in 2021 and currently has four locations across New York, which it considers essential to its mission. “Our target customers are women in their mid-20s to mid-30s who may or may not have ever been to a brewery, but are at least curious enough to come to our brewery. ” says co-founder Tara Hankinson. “That woman probably likes how Instagrammable our flights are.”
Thalea Air flights are displayed in colorful colors pressed plywood paddle In addition to flavor profiles such as “Hoppy & Hazy” and “Sour & Fruity,” the flavors are carefully selected for each season and occasion, including fall’s “Sweater Weather” flights, this summer’s “Barbie” flights, and this year’s non-alcoholic flights. Masu. Dry January. There’s no arguing that the ultra-modern establishment, which resembles an all-day Los Angeles cafe more than a typical brewpub, is uncomfortable.
“People drink and eat with their eyes,” Hankinson says. “Seeing these beautiful flight boards changed the way some people thought about breweries, and it changed the way people thought about craft beer and what that experience was all about.”
Today’s average beer consumer is certainly more informed, and the average brewery is more streamlined in its offering.But as Talea proves, the airmail debate isn’t just about what’s best for the service or the beer itself. Breweries recognize the need to continue to embrace new consumers. The question is how each will go about achieving it.
