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Domestic Beer Falling Flat As Americans Tackle Bold Flavors, Healthier Options

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As Americans stock their refrigerators in advance of the Super Bowl, it would appear that the contents in the cooler may not align with what is traditionally one of the big game’s biggest advertising spenders: domestic beer.

According to new research from Mintel, some 22 percent of Americans say they are drinking less domestic beer because they’re drinking wine instead and 18 percent are focusing their alcohol consumption on liquor in lieu of domestic beer. Despite flat volume sales on the traditional domestic front, craft beer continues to make inroads, especially among the all-important 25-34 age group, where 51 percent feel that smaller producers make better quality products than their larger brethren.

However, competition is not the only issue, because 20 percent of Americans say they are cutting back on domestic beer consumption because it has too many calories and 15 percent believe it to be unhealthy. This has helped buoy the sales of wine, traditionally seen as a healthier option, which saw sales increase 2.6 percent in 2013 to an estimated $42 billion, compared to a rather stagnant 0.3 percent increase for beer. Overall, 53 percent of U.S. consumers say they have had liquor in the last six months and 52 percent have enjoyed wine, while 52 percent have had any domestic beer and 45 percent any imported beer, including regular and lower-calorie products.

In addition to calorie concerns, much of the switch can be traced back to consumers’ lust for variety and different flavors, with craft beer and hard cider, along with wine and spirits all showing significant upticks in consumption over the past six months, particularly among younger consumers. Nearly 25 percent of 22- to 24-year-olds report drinking more spirits or wine compared to the previous six months, with craft beer accounting for the one beer segment that has benefited from increased interest across 22- to 44-year-olds. Nearly 55 percent of all beer drinkers say that they like to try new alcoholic drinks like craft beer or hard cider, and 18 percent of those age 22-24 report drinking more hard cider in the past six months, the largest increase amongst any alcohol type across all measured age groups.

“We’ve seen for years that Americans of legal drinking age are no longer only beer, wine or liquor drinkers; instead they’re trying a variety of alcoholic beverages. Their drink—or drinks—of choice during the Super Bowl will likely be no exception, with consumers curious to try new craft beers, hard ciders, sparkling wine and flavored liquors,” says Jennifer Zegler, global food and drink analyst at Mintel. “However, this thirst for variety has led to flat volume sales for brewers, even though people are buying more of much smaller segments like craft beer and hard cider. Brewers of all sizes must cater to this curiosity with new styles, taste profiles and limited-edition options.”

To that end, brewers everywhere seem to be getting the message and are responding in kind. According to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), beer represented 44 percent of new alcoholic product launches in 2013, up from only 15 percent in 2009. From 2012-2013 alone, the number of new beer launches increased by a whopping 113 percent.

The top claim for new beer products remains limited-edition beers, with an 850 percent increase in the U.S. from 2010-2013. In addition, much growth has occurred for products with environmentally-friendly packaging (233 percent), as well as premium beers (37 percent). More than half (52 percent) of those who drink beer, hard cider and/or malt liquor say they like to choose different alcoholic drinks depending on the season.

“While craft brewers have led the trend of seasonal releases, consumers admit that it’s more than their beer that they change depending on the season. This means adults of legal drinking age are always reconsidering their alcoholic beverage choices, leaving manufacturers constantly competing for consumption,” says Zegler.

Yet, loyalty might not be out of grasp. Mintel research finds that alcoholic beverage consumption declines with age suggesting that manufacturers could be benefited by courting the drinkers age 22-34 who might be making more educated choices now, which could develop into long-term habits.

“Despite the current lack of loyalty among legal drinkers, there’s the possibility that 25- to 34-year-olds are cutting back on their experimentation as they age,” says Zegler. “This could be a time when they are establishing their favorite products, or at best preferred brands, to which they might remain loyal throughout their adulthood. Thus, it’s even more imperative that manufacturers form authentic connections with these young adults of legal drinking age, but continue to capture their interest with a rotation of new products.”

About the author

Kristen Cloud

Kristen was Editor at The Shelby Report.

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