The Brewers Association has said that all signs point to production being down in 2023 — a first (excluding a unique 2020) for BA-defined independent brewers. The association also noted that despite the growing headwinds, there were more brewery openings than closings this year.
The BA reported about 420 brewery openings in 2023 compared to about 380 closings.
No surprises here, but the BA pointed out the primary culprits to declining sales are slowing demand growth, competition from across beverage alcohol, and a retail environment marked by declining draught sales and reduced shelf space for craft.
“Many of craft’s challenges call for new strategies to reach new and existing customers in new occasions with new flavors and innovations,” the BA said in their ‘2023 Year in Beer’ report. “Amid headwinds, there is good news: the continued overall popularity of the category. Independent brewers still sell more than one out of eight beers in the United States, and consumers spend roughly a quarter of their beer dollars on a beer from a small and independent brewer.”
Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association will hold a webinar titled “Ten Points and Predictions for 2024” on Thursday, Dec. 14, at 10:00 a.m. MT to discuss the upcoming year. You can register for the seminar here.