Despite estimated production volume declines of 4%, craft brewers are feeling confident halfway through 2026, according to the Brewers Association’s (BA) mid-year report.
More than half (55.45%) of Brewers Association (BA) defined regional craft breweries beyond the top 50 recorded production volume declines in 2025, but there are still signs of improvement compared to 2024, according to annual data shared last week by the trade group.
The top 50 Brewers Association-defined craft breweries once again posted results as diverse as their portfolio mix these days, according to 2025 production data shared Friday by the trade group.
The 2026 edition of the Brewers Association’s Craft Brewers Conference (in Philadelphia (April 20-22) arrives amid turbulence for the trade association’s membership and an evolution of its marquee event. The craft brewing industry has now recorded three consecutive years of declines as craft brewers fight for relevance in a crowded total beverage marketplace.
Headed to Philadelphia in the next few days for the 2026 Craft Brewers Conference (CBC)? We’ve compiled a list of the top Brewbound stories and podcast episodes attendees should revisit ahead of the Brewers Association’s (BA) big event.
The 2026 Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) is just days away. This year’s CBC may be shorter than previous incarnations, but it’s still a packed three days of education, networking and deal seeking. Beyond the main stage presentation, there are plenty of education sessions that should be on your radar. Here are 10 sessions that caught our attention.
Over the last two years, 1,072 craft breweries have shuttered, while 817 new breweries opened. Speaking to Brewbound following Tuesday’s release of the Brewers Association’s (BA) Industry Production Report, staff economist Matt Gacioch zeroed in on the brewery opening number.
Beneath the surface of craft beer’s 2025 production decline (-5.1%, to nearly 21.86 million barrels) were power moves, usurpings and stumbles among the industry’s top 50 breweries, which the Brewers Association (BA) released today.
A majority of U.S. consumers still want expanded beer home delivery options, according to the sixth annual Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Beer Shipping Report, commissioned by Sovos ShipCompliant and the Brewers Association (BA).
Brewers Association president and CEO Bart Watson believes the Craft Brewers Conference works best when it’s “the big-tent event that everybody is coming to and connecting with.” On the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, Watson explained that he views the largest annual gathering of craft brewers (April 20-22 in Philadelphia) in four buckets.
Cans may be maxing out their share of packaged craft products, Brewers Association (BA) staff economist Matt Gacioch wrote in a recent analysis of 2025 trends.
Check out news items initially reported in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter March 9-11, including headlines from Boston Beer, Black Frog, The Brewers Association and more.
The Brewers Association (BA) slashed nearly every line in its 2025 expenses, but the cuts were still not enough to offset declining revenue, according to the trade group’s annual report.
Check out news items initially reported in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter February 9-11, including headlines from the Brewers Association, Colorado and New Belgium.
The beverage-alcohol landscape has “radically” changed over the last decade, but small and independent producers – both in beer and hard cider – are primed to take advantage, Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bart Watson shared at CiderCon last week in Providence, Rhode Island.
The majority of adult non-alcoholic (ANA) beverage buyers are new consumers to the category, suggesting opportunities for suppliers looking to have a greater impact on the category, according to new data from market research firm NIQ.
“Barring a drastic change in the last few weeks” of 2025, craft will likely record its third consecutive year of volume declines and second consecutive year in which brewery closings outpaced openings, according to the Brewers Association (BA) in the trade group’s annual Year in Beer report.
