Beyond Beer

From the continued rise of the espresso martini to savory cocktails, 2023 was a year of bold flavors at the bar, so what’s in store for 2024? We polled experts in spirits, flavor innovation and mocktails about what trends are on tap for cocktails and ready-to-drink versions.

Flavor continues to be a priority for consumers and a driving force for innovation. But where does that innovation inspiration come from? Molson Coors director of marketing innovation Amanda DeVore, Liquid Death SVP of marketing Dan Murphy, WeldWerks head brewer Skip Schwartz and Hella Cocktail Co. co-founder and CEO Eddie Simeón discuss where they discover the next flavor trends, and how the best inspo is often in places outside of bev-alc.

BuzzBallz founder Merrilee Kick, BeatBox Beverages co-founder Aimy Steadman and Stateside Vodka CEO Clement Pappas explore 4th category trends and opportunities, their growth philosophies and insights into their strategies. All panelists helm ready-to-drink brands with explosive growth.

After a category-wide downturn this year, one global spirits company is championing its portfolio of ready-to-drink cocktails as the silver lining of 2023.

New hard tea and hard lemonade brands continue to populate shelves, while the No. 1 hard tea brand continues to grow its share, despite being more than 20 years in the game.

Schilling Cider continues to grow, despite abstaining from adding new markets for the immediate future, and making just one distribution change in 2023.

The beer distributor route-to-market has served fourth category brands like BeatBox and Stateside Vodka’s Surfside hard tea and lemonade, but getting in front of the right buyers in the fast-changing category is still “messy.”

AriZona Hard Tea VP of sales Lou Fabiano joins the Brewbound Podcast to discuss the opportunity for the hard tea challenger brand as it attempts to cut into Boston Beer Company’s 90% stranglehold on the market with Twisted Tea.

As another Dry January approaches, the non-alcoholic (NA) category has posted “its largest year of absolute dollar growth in five years,” Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA) CEO Marcos Salazar shared during the trade association’s webinar earlier this month.

In October, cider grew its share of beer dollars in Circana-tracked off-premise channels +0.25% month-over-month (MoM) – an improvement over the segment’s typical fall seasonal declines. The trend change is primarily due to the efforts of National Cider Month, according to leadership at Schilling Cider.

Coca-Cola is bringing another of its juice brands to the bev-alc world. This time, it’s Minute Maid Spiked. The Coca-Cola Company’s bev-alc subsidiary Red Tree Beverages is launching a line of multi-serve wine cocktails under the juice brand in spring 2024.

FIFCO USA-owned Seagram’s Escapes is refreshing its brand family in 2024. Seagram’s Escapes Refreshers will roll out in 15 markets next year, the company announced today. The 5% ABV flavored malt beverage (FMB) is sweetened with cane sugar and fruit juice, according to a press release.

Newcomers in non-alc are climbing up the list of Drizly’s top-selling SKUs, illustrating how brands are continuing to find innovative ways to replace drinking occasions.