Where Is Craft Beer Headed Now?

And the number 1 selling beer in the UK is Carling Lager.

Cheers!

 

Dave, I think that answer is dependent on the proportion of that number being the size/type of breweries. If the trend continues whereby the vast majority of new breweries are of the small, local variety with their principle business being on premise sales I could envision that number being greater than 8,000.

Cheers!

 

I imagine that the number of breweries will crest closer to 10,000. My guess is that 60+% of those will not distribute at all outside of some local tap accounts

 

Nah, it'll lose it's cache when people go:

What do I want from my IPA? Juice bombs.

What do I want from my sours? Juice bombs.

Wait.............do I actually just want juice?

 

Where Is Craft Beer Headed Now?

Down the hatch and into my belly.

 

Do you guys see any good related business opportunities arising as a result of the changes in the craft beer industry?

 

Yes if you live in an area with a large number of local and hyped breweries you can buy a van or an old party bus and offer "Brewery Tours." Basically drive a group of people around from spot to spot and charge an amount per person. I believe the overhead cost of starting something like this would be low and profits would be good.

 

Until science finds a way to make eclairs that will get me drunk, my pastry stouts are safe!

 

I would think that with the plethora of new small, local breweries that recently opened and the thousands of new small. local breweries in planning (to open in 2019 and 2020) that brewery equipment manufacturers would be very busy the next few years.

As a craft beer consumer I would hope that there is a business opportunity for the folks/businesses that support the QC/QA aspects of brewing. For example the businesses that produce analytical equipment to test that the beers are meeting quality metrics.

Cheers!

 

The wrong direction....

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2378267485579439

 

Craft beer is headed to where many of the brews I love most are discontinued and most of what I find on the shelves is either beers I'm not very interested in or old because the beers I'm very interested in are "old," as in, they're not a brand new release, and they collect dust.

 

I’m losing it on ipas in general, there’s a few that I love,but they’re few in number, the pure bitter is off putting. . Dipas are different, those really work for me, but in very small doses, my palates screwed up right now. Beer I’m craving for nfl playoff week 2 is Michelob.

 

Not sure where craft is heading but I am sure it will continue to wow and amaze newcomers as it has for all us folks who have been around for awhile. As for me, I still enjoy craft and trying new things but honestly it has lost the luster it once held, least for me. Most of what I see today is just a twist and modification on what I already have had and for a premium price which I am not so eager to pay these days. I equate craft to Vegas, for awhile its amazing then you begin to realize its just the same old same old with a fancy package.
Cheers

 

Nice thread @cavedave. I basically missed the last explosion 2011 - 2015 well at least to me. All the new brewery's that popped up that I did not know about. Craft beer is moving at a snail's pace when it comes to getting most people to drink it, I do not think it will ever be the norm, and that is ok, it's good to be different. Mountain biking is very popular here in GJ, people come over from all over the US to ride here, and they do spend their money here at local places, and I do see them drink craft beer, even after their rides at the trailhead. Some of these breweries just charge too much for a can of beer, yes they are pretty tasty, but for over $5, that's getting crazy.

Cheers!

 

You have to stand out, in this case by making really good beer and having the word spread, or making beer that is different, interesting, and still good while having the word spread. A collaboration always seems to get cross exposure too for breweries. Making friends usually seems to help as well. Breweries have to try to get their beer in as many hands and mouths as possible for more exposure on and off the internet to get people talking about it.

Just some ideas.

 

It's going to keep rising until the next hop shortage.

 

I think that the brewery count will keep increasing, but I think there will still be a lot of closures. As time goes on people will figure out what good beer is and will seek it out. Given that, there is always room for the taproom experience where subpar beer and good environment will trump great beer. I am entrenched in the camp until another obsession comes and sweeps me away. I do think there has to be a solid business plan on how breweries opened in today's market will operate, the day of just opening and bottling beer and throwing it on shelves is gone, there is simply too much there, and a lot of really good beer is going bad on the shelves.
My hometown just had their first brewery open up, was there a month after they opened and was amazed at the amount of money that was put into it. I was told their business plan was built with 80+ percent coming from outside sales. That depressed me as I don't think it is achievable in today's market. In asking around it seems that most of the investors were not that beer savvy and were not aware of how the market has turned.

 

Like I mentioned, price is a big factor. Last week when I was going to pick up some CBS, this older guy walks by and I tell him (just kidding), but, that he should buy a bottle, he looked at the price, walked over and picked up a 12 pack or more of some Coors or such, and said his wife basically would not approve the purchase. Still, so many people drink by the color of the beer (I don't drink dark beers). They have no clue about styles. This shit happens in the bourbon world as well.

Cheers!

 

Dale, next time you come up to visit I recommend that you try Love City Lager. I think you would love that beer.

Love City Brewing opened up about 6 months ago.

Cheers!