## Non-Alcoholic Beer Boom Drives January 2026 Launches
Athletic Brewing relaunches **Athletic January** with on-premise activations and bold-flavor innovations to meet rising demand for flavorful NA options (Craft Brewing Business, 2026).[7] Reuben’s Brews in Seattle kicks off Dry January with the **Party On NA Beer Run**, a beer mile event celebrating non-alcoholic brews amid moderation trends (Brewpublic, 2026).[8] Anheuser-Busch introduces **Michelob ULTRA Zero Lime**, expanding its fast-growing non-alcohol portfolio hitting shelves this January (Anheuser-Busch, 2026).[9]
Great Lakes Brewing expands the Conway’s Irish family with a new **Irish Party Pack**, marking its first 2026 release (Great Lakes Brewing Company, 2026).[10]
## Craft Beer Faces Closures and Shakeout
Batavia’s Beers of the World store shuts by end-February 2026 due to economic changes and declining beverage-alcohol sales from financial strains and health awareness (WXXI News, 2026).[6] Craft brewing marks a second year of more closures than openings, with nearly 9,800 firms but sales declines outpacing the category through November 2025 (Vinepair, 2026).[1][3]
Big Three lagers—Bud Light, Coors Light, and Miller Lite—trail market growth in off-premise dollars and volume per Circana data (Vinepair, 2026).[1] Analysts eye if 2026 stabilizes craft or deepens contraction (Vinepair, 2026).[3]
## Premiumisation and Packaging Shifts Gain Momentum
Cans near bottles’ 45-46% revenue share, favored for e-commerce and premium craft packaging (Torg, 2026).[4] Nearly half of small brewers report growth despite volume drops, driven by craft, premium, and low-ABV segments (Torg, 2026).[4]
Europe prioritizes sustainability and zero-alcohol as Asian and Latin American imports carve niches (Torg, 2026).[4]
## Low and No-ABV Trends Dominate Craft Innovations
Low/no-ABV leads craft trends as nearly half of Americans aim to drink less in 2026 (Tastewise, 2026).[2] Hyper-localization uses local farms for hops and fruits to boost demand (Tastewise, 2026).[2]
Hybrid styles, fruited sours, and smoothie beers emerge alongside canned crossovers mimicking RTD cocktails (Tastewise, 2026).[2] Female-owned breweries innovate, while wild fermentation and limited releases add variety (Tastewise, 2026).[2]
## Global Expansions Signal Craft Growth
An Indian craft brewer backed by Kirin Holdings plans a USD 70 million facility and 2026 public listing to challenge global brands and expand premium beer access (Coherent Market Insights, 2026).[4] Beer processing market hits USD 802.34 billion in 2026, growing at 4.1% CAGR on craft demand (Coherent Market Insights, 2026).[4]