Anyone looking for an answer to when craft’s current era of compounding hurdles and declines will come to an end received a reality check Wednesday during Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bart Watson’s state of the industry address, held at the start of Day 2 of the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) in Indianapolis.
Seasonal trends for onsite brewery sales have remained relatively consistent since January 2021, but “in real terms” – i.e. accounting for inflation – onsite sales continue to decline, according to Brewers Association (BA) staff economist Matt Gacioch, citing data from Arryved.
Craft beer has entered “no to negative growth territory,” Brewers Association (BA) chief economist Bart Watson said during a year-end webinar last week. “We were in double-digit growth as recently as 2014, 2015, and then we moved into kind of a more developed, slow, single-digit growth rate,” Watson said. “COVID hit, and we had the worst year in craft history in 2020 with a partial bounce back in 2021.
Four incumbents and two new members will join the Brewers Association (BA) board of directors following last month’s election. The new term is slated to begin in February 2026.
The Brewers Association (BA) has hired Michael Mohr-Ramirez to lead its federal government affairs efforts, the trade organization announced Monday.
The Brewers Association (BA) is accepting ballots from voting members through November 19 in its annual board of directors election. Five three-year terms are open to represent the board’s three member classes.
The Brewers Association’s (BA) 43rd Great American Beer Festival (GABF) kicks off tonight at Denver’s Colorado Convention Center, bringing together nearly 438 craft breweries, and even more craft beverage producers.
Brewers and other bev-alc manufacturers stand to face serious inconveniences if the federal government shuts down at the end of today (September 30), industry trade groups have cautioned.
The Brewers Association (BA) has asked the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to examine state-level regulations governing franchise law, three-tier mandates and territory exclusivity.
Beer volume from Brewers Association-defined (BA) craft breweries has declined 5% through the first half of 2025 compared to 2024, according to the trade organization’s midyear market report, which was published Wednesday following a survey of members.
Despite recent headwinds, craft beer continues to have the largest share of beer sales at Total Wine & More stores. But “it won’t stay that way” if industry trends continue, according to the chain retailer’s senior director, merchandising, Andrea Starr.
Under new leadership for the first time in more than a decade, the Brewers Association (BA) is “relentlessly focused on members and what their needs are,” CEO and president Bart Watson said last week.
When her husband told her he wanted to start a brewery, Trillium co-founder Esther Tetreault had a pair of questions for him. “Do you want to be a brewer, which is cool, or do you want to start a business in craft beer?” she asked JC Tetreault.
First time visiting Indianapolis? Same here. To craft my Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) extracurricular gameplan, I consulted some beer-loving locals and ex-pats for their favorite spots both beer-related and not in Indy/Circle City/Naptown (OK, I also consulted Wikipedia for the city’s nicknames).
Racing fans, we are headed to Indianapolis! It’s my first time in Indy, and I might be sneaking away for some fast car-related excursions while in town (Motor Speedway Museum, anyone?). But I’m just as excited about what’s on tap at this year’s Craft Brewers Conference (CBC).
Something that’s stuck with me from classes taken en route to a master’s degree in integrated marketing communication is that your brand isn’t what you say it is – it’s what your consumers say it is. I’ve identified a few seminars that will help you differentiate yourself in a crowded market by becoming consumer-centric in your portfolio strategy and finding ways to tell your story in your own authentic voice.
Headed to Indianapolis for the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) and looking for some light reading? We got you. Ahead of the Brewers Association’s (BA) big event, we’ve put together a list of some of the trade group’s biggest stories from the past few months that will help you prepare for the week.
