10th April | Amy Bainbridge back

Stout’s Back, Baby – and Cider’s Gone Posh

Big news in the world of booze – The Grocer’s latest Focus on Beer & Cider report (29th March 2025)  has landed, and it’s spilling some serious insights. The headline? Stout is making a bold comeback and cider is getting a premium glow up. Drinkers are getting more adventurous, chasing bigger flavours, better quality and a proper drinking experience. And the brands that nail it (Westons, and a certain Irish stout, we’re looking at you) are cashing in. So, what’s behind the shift, and how can brands ride the wave?

The Stout Renaissance – Dark, Rich and Back in Fashion

For years, stout was a bit of an underdog – a bit too ‘Dad at the pub’ for some. But not anymore. According to The Grocer’s report, UK stout sales are up +14% YOY, as drinkers (especially younger ones) are rediscovering its smooth, indulgent appeal. And they’re not just sipping the old-school classics. Modern stouts are shaking things up with nitro-infused creaminess, rich coffee and chocolate notes, combined with sessionable ABVs, making them more accessible than ever. The days of heavy, one-dimensional stouts are over – now it’s about smooth, flavour-packed pours that feel fresh and exciting. And let’s talk influence. When A-listers, sports stars and musicians start sipping on something, it doesn’t stay niche for long – it becomes the drink everyone wants to be seen with. A certain dark, creamy pint has been having its viral moment, popping up in the hands of celebs left, right and centre, proving that a well-placed endorsement can shift an entire category overnight.  

Premium Cider is Winning – And Westons is Leading the Charge

It’s official: cider drinkers are levelling up. Neon-coloured, artificially flavoured ciders? Dead. Today’s drinkers want the real deal – proper cider made with proper apples (shocking, we know). And the numbers back it up. The premium and crafted segment is surging, with more consumers happy to pay extra for authenticity and quality. That’s exactly where Westons is smashing it. Henry Westons Vintage 500ml isn’t just the UK’s best-selling cider SKU – it’s worth a massive £20.4 million more than the next bestseller – while the new Westons Vintage Pear has added £550k in sales over the past year. And if you need any more proof that premium cider is big business? One bottle of Henry Westons Vintage is sold every 0.75 seconds across the UK. Riding high on that success, Westons has just dropped Henry Westons 1880 Vintage, to mark 145 years of cider-making heritage with a recipe picked from the family archives. Designed to capitalise on the booming crafted cider segment, it’s already shaping up to be another crowd-pleaser. The key takeaway? Premium cider isn’t trend, it’s a full-blown category shift. And Westons is proving that premium cider doesn’t have to be pretentious – just proper.

Drinking is Now an Experience – Not Just a Pint

Pubs, bars and even supermarkets aren’t just selling drinks anymore – they’re selling experiences. That’s why beer tasting flights, cider and food pairings, and immersive brewery and orchard tours are on the rise. Drinkers want to know the story behind what’s in their glass, and brands that offer more than just a product are winning. Heritage, craftsmanship and sustainability all play a part. And when you throw pop culture into the mix – from celeb-backed brands to viral social media moments – you’ve got a recipe for drinks brands to own the conversation.

Want to Make Some Noise in Beer & Cider?

Stout is cool again. Cider is getting fancy. And brands that own these trends will win big. But standing out in a crowded market takes more than just a great product – it takes a killer PR strategy. That’s where we come in. At Richmond & Towers, we help brands like Westons and Brooklyn Brewery own the conversation, with game-changing trade coverage to make sure the right people are paying attention. So, if you’re ready to turn industry trends into big wins, let’s talk.