Explore the world of craft beer, from performance reports and innovation tactics to the state of the industry and breaking news.
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.
Around 10,000 industry members are expected to make the trip to Indianapolis for the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America (April 28 to May 1). The gathering takes place against a backdrop of growing headwinds for craft breweries and an overhaul of CBC’s host organization, the Brewers Association.
Craft’s rolling four-week losses improved to start 2025, according to the most recent report from market research firm Circana. The segment’s off-premise dollar sales declined -3.1% and volume, measured in case sales, declined -4.6% in the four-week period ending January 26 (L4W) at multi-outlet grocery, mass retail and convenience stores (MULO+C). That marked an improvement over the prior four-week period (through December 29, 2024), when craft dollars declined -5.1% and volume declined -6.5%.
It started with a simple bag of grain. Later, that grain was processed into chips. But the fun really ramped up when West African food company Yolélé turned fonio, a niche “miracle grain” that the brand has made its hero ingredient, into a limited-edition beer.
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.
The craft segment’s dollar sales and volume declines have accelerated to start the second quarter, traditionally the lead-up to beer’s all important summer selling season, according to the most recent off-premise report from market research firm Circana.
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.
Rhinegeist is ghosting alcohol. The Cincinnati craft brewery will add its first non-alcoholic (NA) beer to its portfolio later this summer. Ghost is an “affiliated brand” that plays on the “geist” name, meaning ghost or spirit, Rhinegeist CEO Adam Bankovich told Brewbound. The NA beer is one of two big portfolio additions for Rhinegeist this year, with Cincy Light’s first line extension, Cincy Light Lime (4.2% ABV), rolling out now on draft.
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.
The Brewers Association’s Craft Brewers Conference has taken over Indianapolis, and the Brewbound team gives a vibe check on the first day of the largest meeting of craft brewers in the U.S. Justin, Jess and Zoe recap early presentations from BA board chair Leah Cheston, president and CEO Bart Watson and Trillium founders JC and Esther Tetreault and the overarching theme of resilience in the face of adversity.
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).
Audra Gaiziunas is the CFO and co-owner of Asheville’s DSSOLVR, the treasurer of the Brewers Association’s (BA) board of directors and the founder of Brewed for Her Ledger management consulting firm. Since opening the firm, Audra has worked with more than 300 brewery partners to organize and optimize their finances.
With craft brewers facing an overwhelming amount of uncertainty, the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference comes at a good time for those interested in tapping into winning strategies. While I encourage you to be in the room for Brewers Association (BA) CEO Bart Watson’s state of the industry speech at 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 30, there are several other seminars (and parties) worth your time.
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.
Audra Gaiziunas wears so many hats she could open a Lids. She is the CFO and co-owner of Asheville’s DSSOLVR, founder of Brewed for Her Ledger management consulting firm and treasurer of the Brewers Association’s (BA) board of directors. There is almost no one better to feature in our pre-Craft Brewers Conference edition of A Round With …, the Brewbound Insider-exclusive Q&A with industry leaders.
When Brewers Association (BA) staff economist Matt Gacioch is asked whether craft brewers are optimistic or pessimistic, his response is “brewers are realistic.” “They are understanding that this is a new environment that they are operating in,” Gacioch said during the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast.
