The Flat Beer Trend

Beer seemingly has a few immutable qualities, among them the carbonation. That delightful fizz lends a certain festivity to the drink; it’s a refreshing aspect that, along with drinking it while cold, seem to be inherently tied to the quality of the beer.

But flat, or still beer, is on the rise. These beers are big and bold and tend to be more expensive — and higher in alcohol. The higher alcohol content helps preserve the beers as they age.

One interesting aspect of the still beer is it doesn’t have to be consumed entirely in one sitting — for it won’t go flat after you open it. Like a fine whiskey, it can be consumed over time, and often comes in resealable containers.

These beers are popping up in the United States and in beer-loving Belgium. Among the most notable options out there now are De Struise Brouwers’s, Cuvée Delphine on Steroids, Dave by Hair of the Dog Brewing Company, BrewDog’s End of History, Le Baladin’s Xyauyù Kentucky and Samuel Adams Utopias.