Even casual beer drinkers have noticed the rise in popularity of IPAs and thanks to this, plenty of subcategories like sour IPAs are also gaining traction. While IPAs tend to be heavily malty or bitter, sour IPAs are highly fruity and are even said to have a "juice-like drinkability."
New Belgium's newest release is a Sour IPA with the aroma and flavors of sweet lemon, tangerine, peach, guava and grapefruit. The product is created with a hazy IPA base that's enhanced with wood-aged golden sour to introduce a novel and approachable way for people to experience an IPA. As Lauren Limbach, wood cellar director and blender for New Belgium's brewery says, "Sour IPA is another example of approaching IPA through an artisanal lens to create a completely unique experience for the craft beer drinker."
Fruity Sour IPAs
New Belgium's Sour IPA is Full of Guava, Citrus & Peach Flavors
Trend Themes
1. Sour IPA - The rise in popularity of sour IPAs is opening up a subcategory that emphasizes fruity flavors over malty or bitter notes.
2. Fruity Flavors - The emergence of fruity sour IPAs offers opportunities for brewers to innovate with an artisanal approach to creating unique flavor experiences.
3. Wood-aged Sour - The introduction of wood-aged golden sour to enhance the flavor profile of sour IPAs presents opportunities for experimentation and differentiation in a crowded market.
Industry Implications
1. Craft Beer - Craft brewers can explore the sour IPA trend and leverage the appeal of fruity and juicy flavors to differentiate and expand their product offerings.
2. Food and Beverage - The emergence of sour IPAs featuring a variety of fruity flavors presents opportunities for restaurant and bar owners to curate unique beverage menus that cater to diverse consumer tastes.
3. Alcohol Distribution - The sour IPA trend presents opportunities for alcohol distributors to partner with innovative breweries and create new distribution channels for unique beer products that appeal to a broad consumer base.