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FONIO IN BREWING

#1 of TOP 10 Trends for 2026 and beyond

10 Flavors to Know for the Future:

What's Next in Food and Beverage Trends Beyond 2026

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1. Ancient Grain Beer

(Made with African Fonio)

WHAT IT IS: Combining beer with health and sustainability- forward trends, ancient grain beer is brewed with ancient grains such as fonio and quinoa.

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CONSUMER INTEREST: 40% of consumers are interested in trying it, and 8% have already tried it.

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WHY IT MATTERS: This category is gaining traction as a gluten-free alternative that aligns with both wellness and environmental consciousness. The trend offers both a compelling origin story and functional benefits that appeal to health-conscious drinkers.

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APPLICATION IDEAS:  Craft breweries can experiment with fonio as a percentage of their grain bill, while brands might launch ready-to-drink ancient grain beer varieties positioned in the growing better-for-you alcohol segment

What is fonio

  • An ancient grain that’s been grown throughout the West African Sahel for 5,000 years.

  • Drought-tolerant and thrives even in poor soil.

  • Grown without irrigation or chemicals.

  • Mainly grown by women to keep their families fed in times of famine, its life-saving properties have given it a place of cultural importance:

The Seed of the Universe, the source of all life.

Fonio brewing resources

Explore articles, webinars, and industry coverage on fonio’s role in brewing, flavor development, sustainability, and commercial beer innovation.

Craft Beer & Brewing

Fonio Calls, and Craft Brewers Answer

A detailed industry piece on how breweries are using fonio for flavor, texture, brewing economics, and innovation.

Business Wire

Fonio Rising Pale Ale Joins Brooklyn Brewery’s Core Portfolio

Coverage of Brooklyn Brewery moving Fonio Rising from a limited release into its core portfolio after award-winning reception.

American Society of Brewing Chemists

Brewing for Impact: African Fonio as a Major Brewing Grain of the Future

An on-demand webinar with Garrett Oliver covering fonio history, sustainability, processing, beer production, recipe design, and procurement.

Brooklyn Brewery

The Fonio Frontier

Brooklyn Brewery’s own overview of the Brewing for Impact initiative and collaboration with Carlsberg Lab.

Carlsberg Group

Brooklyn Brewery Unites Brewing Industry in Pioneering Global Initiative

InsideHook

The Next Big Grain in Beer? It’s Called Fonio.

Hop Culture

Brewing for Impact With Fonio

Bon Appétit

The Ancient African Grain, Fonio, Might Be the Future of Beer

The Brewer Magazine

Meet Fonio: An Ancient Grain That Could Disrupt the Industry
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