Doug Veliky, now of beverage consulting firm BrightBev, author of the BeerCrunchers newsletter and blog, and the personality behind the Beer Aficionado social media account, has a knack for explaining complex beverage-business goings-on without jargon. Over the years of running first finance and then marketing for Chicago craft brewery Revolution, he developed a keen sense of brand building and market timing.

Now, he shares that expertise with beverage brands both professionally and publicly, with BrightBev as well as via entertaining videos on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. However, in this episode of the podcast, we dive deeper than the minute or two that social media typically afford, and we explore the trends that Veliky sees gaining momentum over the next 12 months. Including:

major flavor trends in 2026, such as apple, yuzu, pickle, and more
rethinking seasonality in fruit beer
balancing philosophy and consistency with effectiveness in branding
the growing segments of mid-strength and “dad-strength” beer
lower performance from breweries’ long-tail brands
building brands slowly to gain organic traction
pricing trends that affect craft beer
how quality is a make-or-break proposition in craft beer today

And more.

This episode is brought to you by:

G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): With refrigerant regulations changing and the cost of obsolete refrigerants skyrocketing, sometimes the fix costs more than the unit is worth. G&D Chillers is there to help, whether you’re a small brew pub or large full-scale production brewery. Don’t throw good money at bad equipment. Invest in a solution that grows with your brewery—and keeps your tanks cold when it counts.
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PakTech (https://paktech-opi.com) PakTech delivers craft beer multipacking you can trust. PakTech’s handles are made from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. PakTech helps brands stand out while staying sustainable. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com.

Indie Hops. (https://indiehops.com) Introducing Strata Cryo, in collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops. Whether brewing up a single-hop Strata IPA to wow customers or modernizing your flagship IPA, Strata T99, Strata CGX, Strata HyperBoost, and now Strata Cryo provide the tools for you to create your unique masterpiece. Indie Hops Strata. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful!

Midea. (https://Midea.com/us/) The Midea 50/50 Flex has the power to be all freezer, all fridge, or a little bit of both. Plus, it’s designed to maintain a stable temp even in non climate controlled conditions–so you can crack a cold one even on the warmest days in the man cave. Check out Midea.com/us/ to get more info on this game changer today.

Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer) Why not source everything from a one-stop shop? Old Orchard might be best-known for flavored blends, but if you need 100 percent purees or concentrates, then Old Orchard can likely help—even with options not listed on our website. Let us know what you need at oldorchard.com/brewer.
Brightly Software (https://brightlysoftware.com) is a complete asset management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com.

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