Drink Insights Network lists the top five terms tweeted by beer experts in Q3 2020, based on data from GlobalData’s Influencer Platform. The top tweeted terms are the trending industry discussions happening on Twitter by key individuals (influencers) as tracked by the platform.

1. Craft Beer – 404 mentions

Craft beer sales affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Pittsburgh beer festival going online and local bar using smear campaign against craft beer to its advantage were some popularly discussed topics in Q3 2020. Bart Watson, chief economist at Brewers Association, a non-profit trade association for American brewers, tweeted about the organisation’s craft beer sales declining in the first half of 2020. While the sales of craft beer saw a 3% to 4% growth in the first two and half months, the volume of sales dropped after the Covid-19 outbreak in March. The pandemic induced lockdown restrictions across the US dented the beer sales, which saw a 10% y-o-y drop, compared with 2019.

Further, Tara Nurin, a beer writer at Forbes, shared an article about the first all-Black beer festival, which is usually held in Pittsburgh, going online. The annual beer festival, being held for third year in a row, was forced to go the digital way due to the ongoing pandemic. The organisers are planning to stream the beer-related content on six YouTube channels live for 54 hours. Broadcasting the show on the internet will help expand the festival’s reach among the African American community, the article highlighted.

Another discussion surrounding craft beer was shared by Charlie Papazian, a beer enthusiast, about the Imperial Taproom, a beer bar in Texas, using an advertisement shared by a local pastor to expand customer base. The Baptist church pastor who is a teetotaller brought out an ad stating ‘Craft beer is the devil’s craft’ to enlighten the denizens of Canyon city. The recently inaugurated bar used the print ad pamphlet distributed by the church as a $1 coupon to entice customers. The Canyon residents embraced the bar with gusto after the bar offered these coupons, the article noted.

2. Pubs – 212 mentions

Beer aficionados launching campaigns to preserve a pub, Scotland enforcing new rules for pubs and Irish pubs being unhappy with government’s financial aid were some widely discussed topics in Q3 2020. According to an article shared by Roger Protz, a beer writer, beer fans in Manchester launched a campaign to save The Jolly Angler pub in the city, after its owners announced that it would be shutdown. The local drinkers filed a petition to preserve the pub as part of a development that may happen in the locality. More than 1,000 people have signed the petition for preservation of the pub so far, the article highlighted.

Briggs on Beer, a beer and pubs columnist at Lancashire Telegraph, further, shared an article about revision of rules for visitors of pubs in Scotland as government imposed third phase of Covid-19 pandemic related lockdown. Customers visiting pubs and bars need to wear masks more frequently and can only meet a couple of people to avoid the spread of coronavirus. The restrictions were implemented due to regular outbreaks and rising number of Covid-19 cases across Glasgow, the article noted.

Pubs also trended in a discussion shared by Aidan Sweeney, an independent beer sommelier, about the drinks industry in Ireland expressing displeasure over the government’s $19m aid for the sector and urging the latter to decrease the excise tax. The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) says that the government is unaware of the magnitude of the problem faced by operators of pubs during the pandemic. The government’s aid hardly helps the industry to overcome the huge financial losses incurred during the lockdown, the article highlighted.

3. Ale – 186 mentions

Californian brewery advancing the release of winter beer and British Columbians planning an ale-venture travel to craft beer destinations were some popularly discussed topics during the quarter. BREWPUBLIC, an online portal for craft beer news and events, shared an article about Anderson Valley Brewing, a California-based brewing company, deciding to release its Winter Solstice beer earlier than normal this year. The company is continuing to brew the beer despite this particular beer style losing its sheen over the years, the article highlighted.

Another discussion related to ale was shared by Matter of Beer, a beer consultant and writer for Monday Magazine, about British Columbians preparing for ale-centric travel during phase three of restart plan after coronavirus pandemic related lockdowns. Some of the ale aficionados also discussed the top ten breweries they would like to visit during their ale-travel. The Canadian province is eagerly awaiting the start of the ale trail after four months of Covid-19 pandemic induced lockdown restrictions put brakes on their travel plans, the article noted.

4. Lager – 179 mentions

Young entrepreneurs launching new brewing company in Canada and marginal increase in Boston Lager sales were some widely discussed topics in the third quarter of the year. According to an article shared by Ben Johnson, a beer blogger, Jack Jelinek and Michael Woolfson, two entrepreneurs launched the Crank Lite Lager brewery in London city of Ontario province in Canada. The company is currently selling a case of 24 cans at $36. The business started booming after the onset of Covid-19 pandemic as the entrepreneurs cashed in on the temporary closure of liquor stores, the article highlighted.

Lager was also discussed in a tweet shared by Bryan Roth, a beer aficionado, about the sales of the Boston Lager craft beer rising marginally on a year-on-year basis. The retail sales of the beer went up by 12% for three months ending August 16, compared with the corresponding period in 2019, even as the sales of past 52 weeks registered a 3% growth. The manufacturer of Boston Lager, Samuel Adams, released the first look of its revamped version. The specifications of Boston Lager’s latest version are 5% alcohol by volume (AbV) and 30 international bitterness units (IBU), the article noted.

5. Stout – 101 mentions

Beer expert’s views on why Quantock Stout is the best beer for the week and Portland brewing company launching its latest stout beer were some popularly discussed topics during the quarter. Adrian Tierney-Jones, editor at Original Gravity, a beer magazine, tweeted about choosing Quantock Stout as the top beer for the second week of September for Beer for the Week, a column published in Daily Star, a UK-based newspaper. Quantock Stout, which has an ABV of 4.5%, is a roasty stout from cider country prepared in Quantock Brewery, located at Quantock Hills in Somerset county, England.

Another discussion surrounding stout included Migration Brewing releasing its Black Is Beautiful stout beer at its pubs in Portland, according to an article shared by BEWREPUBLIC. The brewery announced that the stout will be packed in 12oz cans and draft, while the revenue from the sales of the beer will be donated to Rose City Justice, a forum for racial justice. The Black Is Beautiful initiative was started by Marcus Baskerville, the founder of Weathered Souls Brewing, who joined forces with breweries across the globe to raise awareness on the injustice being meted out to people of colour, the article highlighted.