A Shift in Beer Preferences Brings New Drinks to the Table

From Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl by All About Beer

May 27, 2026 · 1h 3m

About this episode

Brandon Jones discusses the evolution of beer preferences and the shift towards unique, experience-driven brews.

During the recent craft brewers conference All About Beer set up at Human Robot for a suite of podcasts. I was happy to get together with Brandon Jones, the long-time brewer and creator of Embrace the Funk. It’s a conversation that goes into the evolution of extreme beers to nuanced, complex brews. As Jones has begun to note the shift of consumer preferences, he sees a move away from hazy IPAs towards more unique, experience-driven beers. He advocates for brewers to ask questions and learn from each other. As the industry involves, he shares insight into the brewery’s cider program, which is inspired by European natural ciders. Visit AllAboutBeer.com for more podcasts, to read original articles, and to get info on upcoming events. Click here to support independent journalism covering the beer industry. This Episode is Sponsored by: John I. Haas When every pound of hops matters, brewers need products that work harder in the brewhouse. LupoMAX® was engineered to deliver concentrated lupulin, intense aroma expression, and reduced process loss, helping breweries improve yields while maintaining true-to-type hop character. Available in standout varieties like Citra®, Mosaic®, Krush®…

People in this episode

Host: John Holl

Guest: Brandon Jones

Topics covered

beer preferences
craft brewing
consumer trends
cider program
brewing techniques

Keywords

craft beer
hazy IPAs
cider
brewing
consumer preferences
extreme beers
natural ciders

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: All About Beer, Human Robot, Embrace the Funk, Sennos

Products: LupoMAX®, Citra®, Mosaic®, Krush®

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