Drink To That: Experts Outline 5 Trends On the 2011 Alcohol Forecast

Beer and Wine Are All About Small Brews and What’s Near You, Spirits Trend Towards the Unlikely

Finally, though beer and wine don’t have the benefit of any period piece television programming, the trends seem to be more universal.

All of the experts mentioned micro brews and craft beers from local breweries as beer trends that aren’t going anywhere. Lermayer sees these beers taking over the menus at local restaurants and bars. “In New York City, it’s easier to find Allaghash White on a menu than a Budweiser,” he says.

Local and organic wines are also enjoying a moment, but they’re just one more option for the well rounded wine lover who is increasingly seeking out wines from unexpected places. “My friend who works for the State Stores in Pennsylvania keeps imploring them to buy more South American wines, they can’t keep the Malbec on the shelves,”says Geshury. Lermayer has noticed wines from Spain, Greece and emerging wine regions becoming more popular.

Phillips contrasts this with “increasing interest in unique whisky expressions, rums and liqueurs from far-away lands. Thankfully, both trends indicate more engaged, thoughtful and sophisticated consumers.”

Lermayer agrees: “I love the fact that real, artisanal liquors like Domaine de Canton, St. Germain, Aperol, etc can be found on most back bars.”

In that growing sophistication in consumers, a trend of drinking differently is likely the next step.

“The obvious answer would be the pairing with food” says Fernandez. “This has always been essential with wine. Now that cocktails have evolved and with the micro brewery, it’s no longer [restricted to] beer and burgers and pre-dinner cocktails.”