8 Beverages to Add to Your 2026 Menu

From hop water and energy drinks to RTD cocktails and more, supercharge your 2026 menu with 8 must-try beverage formats!

As beverage trends continue to evolve, 2026 is shaping up to be a stand out year for innovation. From carbonated soft drinks and flavored seltzers to energy drinks and hop water, keeping up with consumer demand means your menu needs to be more diverse and exciting than ever before. 

The best part is that consumers are willing to try new things and they’re searching for innovation. Gen Z consumers are experimenting with floral flavors like lavender and rose. IFT says “swicy” mashups and savory-sweet pairings are fueling innovation while “Nostalgic favorites return with modern twists for reassurance and fun.”¹

Whether you’re planning flavor fusions for upcoming LTO holiday beverages, dirty soda inspired mashups, or filling your brewing calendar with bold NA beers and hop waters, it’s time to get creative. Experiment with the following eight formats and don’t be afraid to go BIG on flavor.

Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSDs)

Whether it’s an afternoon pick-me-up or a sip of nostalgia, carbonated soft drinks are back. Some of this is driven by reduced alcohol consumption, but some are turning to good ol’ fashioned sodas for indulgence, novel flavors, and even function. 

Big industry players, like Coca-Cola Co., are already moving on CSD trends. For example, they’re reintroducing the iconic Mr. Pibb with 30% more caffeine compared to Pibb Xtra. Dane Callis, director of sparkling flavors for Coca-Cola North America, explained to Beverage Industry, “Mr. Pibb was originally launched in 1972 and has always held a special place with fans. In recent years, Pibb Xtra has shown signs of growth, and the momentum of the category is evident.”² 

Black Swan Data, in partnership with Mintel, reveals the following primary flavor platforms to watch in 2026 according to consumer conversations across TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit: Spicy & Aromatic, Fruity, Dessert, Botanicals, Nutty & Earthy, and Savory.³ Whether you want to appeal to dirty soda⁴ drinkers or novelty chasers, CSDs are the ideal category for flavor innovation.

Flavored Sparkling Water

Better for you (BFY) wellness trends include everything from reduced sugar, sugar free, all-natural, organic, and the elusive concept of clean labels. While determining precisely what factors your consumers value takes no small amount of effort, it’s not hard to understand why so many are reaching for flavored sparkling waters.

A 2024 Circana report that analyzed opportunities from growing global interest in well-being explains that “From the Stanley cup craze to Liquid Death, to WaterTok, consumers are clamoring for ways to consume more water, whether it’s sparkling, still, from a spring or from a tap.”⁵ 

While unflavored bottled water will almost always be perceived as the “healthiest” drink, Mintel explains that “smaller categories like sparkling and flavored waters saw greater growth driven by hybrid lifestyles and younger generations' draw to variety.”⁶ Not only do these formats unlock diverse occasions (e.g. a pick-me-up, an alcohol alternative, etc.), but habits of younger generations show an interest in premium water purchasing.

Hop Water

Hop waters are non-alcoholic seltzers flavored with hops, and they’re the new non-negotiable item for any brewery, brew-pub, bar, and even some restaurants. They hit all the same wellness angles that a sparkling water does while appealing to consumers who want the flavor and aroma of hops. Honestly, it’s kind of a no-brainer.

In Gallup’s 2025 assessment, only 54% of U.S. adults say they drink alcohol at all, which is the lowest in nearly 90 years. Among 18–34 year-olds it’s about 50%, down from 59% just two years ago.⁷ For these consumers, hop water just makes sense.

For brewers, adding hop water to your menu is easy. It’s quick to prototype on the cold side, smooth to run, and simple to scale as a modern house-brand offering. Plus, it’s relatively cheap and fast to make regardless of your size. All you need is curiosity, intention, and high quality ingredients.

Learn how to make hop water and add them to your 2026 menu ASAP.

Non Alcoholic Beer

Non alcoholic beer is finally getting the recognition it deserves, and the numbers don’t lie. Recently, Forbes explained that “NA beer is the leading product in the broader non-alcohol category, accounting for 83% of NA sales, compared to 11.2% for NA wine and 5.7% for Spirits (including ready-to-drink, or RTD mocktails).”⁸

Some consumers opt for NA beers for sobriety reasons, for others they simply align with their wellness goals. Even die-hard beer lovers will sip on an NA beer between high ABV IPAs to pace themselves so they can continue socializing long into the night. Whatever the reason people shop for non alcoholic beer, it’s clear there’s more than enough room for NA beers and hop water.

Energy Drinks

Over the past few years, the energy drink category has evolved far beyond its associations with overnight work shifts, extreme sports, and gaming culture. Don’t get us wrong, that still exists. However, energy drinks have become much more inclusive and you’ll find consumers opting for these stimulating beverages at bars, music festivals, and even in place of their morning coffee.

According to a 2025 Mintel report, it’s estimated that energy drink growth will exceed 33 billion dollars by 2029, driven primarily by flavor innovation, better for you (BFY) claims, and the habit some consumers have of drinking two or more different types of energy drinks depending on the occasion.⁹

They also emphasize that “Flavor experimentation is one of the strongest trends in the category. Limited-edition releases, seasonal flavors, and inspiration from other categories (e.g., candy) cater to adventurous consumers and open doors for brand partnerships.”

Functional Beverages & Adaptogen Drinks

Functional beverages are intended to promote benefits beyond basic hydration and often include ingredients like vitamins, minerals, herbs, and probiotics to promote focus, relaxation, or even immune and digestion support. Sounds simple, right? In reality, this category has exploded in recent years with formats blurring in unexpected and exciting ways. 

Some energy drinks provide additional functional benefits, there are sports drinks infused with protein, RTD teas infused with minor cannabinoids, and so much more. According to the Innova Top Trends Survey 2025, roughly one third of consumers say health and wellness are major priorities when it comes to beverage purchases, so the popularity of such drinks makes sense.¹⁰

The key to making these a money-making item on your menu is to formulate functional drinks that actually taste good. Some common adaptogenic ingredients, from mushrooms and ashwagandha to certain vitamins and minerals, come with unpleasant flavors that can be difficult to formulate with. So, if you can offer a functional beverage that tastes great, you’ve got a winner on your hands.

THC Drinks

While the regulatory landscape around cannabis and hemp is constantly shifting, consumers aren’t being shy about their desire for THC drinks. Digits Insights recently explained that “THC beverages reached $54.6 million in Q1 2025 sales, up 15% YoY, with major retailers like Target entering the space.” On top of that, “Beverages now capture 6% of all edible cannabis sales, ranking fourth behind candy, chocolates, and pills.”¹¹

Some of the popularity around THC drinks centers around their use as an alcohol alternative, but even long-time cannabis consumers reach for these beverages as a discreet, smoke-free consumption option that often comes with fewer calories compared to other edibles.

As a relatively young beverage category, there’s still plenty of room for new brands to make a name for themselves with innovative flavor formulations and functional fusions that may appeal to wellness-focused consumers. Be sure to regularly review all relevant regulatory requirements in your area, but writing off THC drinks entirely could leave a lot of money on the table.

Premium RTD Cocktails

Alcohol consumption may be down, but premium RTD cocktails aren’t going away anytime soon. They’re at bars, liquor stores, breweries, and even restaurants and some grocery stores. From classic margaritas and palomas to espresso martinis and negronis, you can find a canned version of just about every cocktail at this point, and for good reason.

In a recent report from Business Research Insights, they found that the global RTD beverage market “stood at USD 35.14 billion in 2025 and is set to expand to USD 37.97 billion in 2026, eventually reaching USD 76.06 billion by 2035.”¹² Plus, in the mid year update from NielsonIQ (NIQ), they found that Spirits-based RTDs are up +20% and “Wine-based RTDs are up +14%, driven by punchy cocktails and alternative packaging.”¹³

The category is surprisingly versatile, offering varying ABV levels, novel or iconic cocktail flavors, and they’re appropriate for both on and off-premise consumption. Increasing demand for premium products combined with growing mixology trends makes adding an RTD cocktail to your menu a solid option.

Abstrax | Build a Beverage Menu Your Customers Love

At Abstrax, we provide novel solutions for beverage manufacturers of all sizes looking to streamline, innovate, and gain a competitive edge. With our knowledge, technology, and extensive resources, we’ve crafted our collections to provide recognizable flavors and aromas that consumers love.

Contact us today, and we’ll help you fine-tune your formulations and round-out your 2026 beverage menu.

1. Cvetan, D. (2025, September 29). Outlook 2026: Flavor Trends. Food Technology Magazine | Market Trends. https://www.ift.org/news-and-publications/food-technology-magazine/issues/2025/october/features/outlook-2026-flavor-trends

2. Jacobsen, J. (2025, October 30). Mr. Pibb Returns to Excite Consumers. Beverage Industry RSS. https://www.bevindustry.com/articles/97923-mr-pibb-returns-to-excite-consumers

3. Sarang, Z., Todd, C., & Ringuet, C. (2025, November 17). Drinks Flavors for 2026: Black Swan x Mintel. Mintel. https://www.mintel.com/insights/ingredients-flavours-and-fragrances/drinks-flavors-for-2026/

4. Schwartz, A. (2024, October 21). What is Dirty Soda?. Food & Wine. https://www.foodandwine.com/what-is-dirty-soda-8730924#:~:text=While%20there%27s%20no%20exact%20definition,specialty%20drinks%20and%20seasonal%20items. 

5. Tapping Into the Global Consumer Well-Being Opportunity. Circana. (2024). https://www.circana.com/post/tapping-into-the-global-consumer-well-being-opportunity 

6. Girard, Kelsey. (2025, February 24). Still and Sparkling Waters - US - 2025. [Market Report]. Mintel. https://www.mintel.com/

7. Saad, L. (2025, September 9). U.S. drinking rate at new low as alcohol concerns surge. Gallup.com. https://news.gallup.com/poll/693362/drinking-rate-new-low-alcohol-concerns-surge.aspx

8. Obialo, S. (2025, November 10). Investors Tap Into The Zero Proof and Non-Alcoholic Beverage Market. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/shimiteobialo/2025/11/10/investors-tap-into-the-zero-proof-and-non-alcoholic-beverage-market/

9. A Mintel Analyst, Global Analyst. (2025, April 01). Energy Drinks – US – 2025. [Market Report]. Mintel. https://www.mintel.com/

10. Jacobsen, J. (2025, July). A Clean Baseline: Clean Label Expectations Prompt Innovation, Education From Suppliers, Manufacturers. Beverage R&D. https://digitaledition.bevindustry.com/july-2025/beverage-rd/?utm_medium=emailsend&utm_source=DG-BI-Beverage%2BIndustry%2BComplimentary&utm_content=BNPCD250701025_01&oly_enc_id=3202I4313167F5B

11. Glaza, D. (2025, November 5). From Na to THC: How Retail Media is Evolving with the Next Big Beverage Boom. Digits Agency. https://www.digitsagency.com/digits-from-na-to-thc-retail-media/#:~:text=The%20Data%20Behind%20the%20Movement,and%20Illinois%20%28+47%25%29

12. RTD Alcoholic Beverage Market Size: Industry Insights, 2035. Business Research Insights. (2025, November 10). https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/market-reports/rtd-alcoholic-beverage-market-108903

13. The Fourth Category: A Mid-Year Update on Ready to Drinks. NIQ. (2025, August 13). https://nielseniq.com/global/en/insights/report/2025/the-fourth-category-a-mid-year-update-on-beverage-alcohol/