Beer and Cider

We first began working on hard seltzer applications 3 years ago. We loved the concept of flavored, low-alcohol sparkling water and knew it would be a hit amongst consumers. Still, we never could have imagined the phenomenon these wildly popular drinks have become!

Pumpkin continues to be a “hot” flavor according to (Gelski, Jeff (2019, October 19) Could any fall flavors become the next pumpkin spice? www.foodbusinessnews.net). Growth continues to go up and from 2016 to 2018 the flavor saw a 16% increase. The cooler weather in the fall continues to encourage consumers to warm spice flavors like Turmeric, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Black Pepper and incorporated into “comfort foods”.

This month in the R and D department we are developing new blends based on Europe. The age old question of are tomatoes a fruit or vegetable? Technically, they are both. Botanically, tomatoes are a fruit with seeds that flower.

Northwest Naturals works with many beer and cider companies on different applications. One area that has seen significant growth is fruit beers and beer cocktails. Beer companies are trying to market to wider audience to pull in people that might not normally enjoy beer. Beer cocktails normally utilize a lighter beer and with an ABV not over 4.5%.

The drink industry is seeing a push toward more developed flavors that appeal to a broader audience that might not normally drink hard alcohol. Millennials are responsible for the current trend toward more exotic spiced flavor profiles. As Millennials are eating out more, their developed spice palette is something they are looking for in new consumer products.