How long can the boom last?

From a BA year-end press release (no number of new breweries)
“Record Brewery Count: Although final 2019 numbers are still being compiled, it is certain that more than 8,000 American breweries operated in 2019, a record number for the United States. At the same time, the competitive market led to more closures, and an estimated 300 breweries will have closed in 2019.”
https://www.brewersassociation.org/press-releases/big-year-for-small-and-independent-beer-in-2019/

In 2018 it was
“Not only did craft beer volume growth fall for the third year straight, slowing to 4% in 2018—down from 5% in 2017 and 6% in 2016—but the industry saw a record number of brewery closures. While 1,049 new breweries opened their doors in 2018, 219 ceased operation—a closure rate of 3%.”
https://growlermag.com/craft-beer-growth-slows-to-4-record-number-of-craft-brewery-closings-in-2018/

 

Nope. You get used to it. I'll drink other things. Out of spite too.

 

Sorry that you're in the minority. Plenty of good beer out there for everyone cheers

 

I suppose that at some point in time Bart Watson will release what the closure rate is for 2019?

For an assumed value of 8,000 breweries operating and 300 for number of closures this example calculation would yield a closure rate of 3.75% for 2019 (which needless to say is greater than the closure rate for 2018).

Cheers!

 

And there’s the rub , who do you trust? How do I know they’re not phony reviews? I trust guys on this site.

 

It is typically included in every annual report - like the two graphs at the bottom of this page for the 2018 results.
https://www.brewersassociation.org/statistics-and-data/national-beer-stats/
tiitled "Micro Openings and Closings" and "Brewpub Openings and Closings".

 

Do you know when the 2019 annual report will be available? Soon?

Cheers!

P.S. Have you seen sales volume details for Sierra Nevada for last year (2019)?

Cheers!

 

Spoke to a Sierra Nevada rep recently and he said most of their 2019 growth came from hazy little thing. Yes a hazy IPA. What does that tell you?

 

Looks like it is typically late March (Top 50) and early April (Growth report) . Then the print copy of The New Brewer May-June Industry Review edition for more in-depth info.

SN was up, low single digits, but those were IRI stats, so not the total market.

 

Excellent point, @islay ... and this falls on us, members here. If all a beer has is 2 ratings and 1 review, what good does this do anyone wanting information about the beer? But it is worse than that... far too many of the beers from the lesser-known / out of favor locals never even get entered into the database here.

As I said, this situation is entirely on us.

 

That the Haze Bois were still buying Juicy/Hazy beers in 2019?

What I am most interested in knowing is how overall sales volume for 2019 compares to 2018.

In a past thread I posted:

“Sierra Nevada Brewing Company has a new CEO.

Brewery founder Ken Grossman named former chief operating officer Jeff White to the position last October (2018), the California-headquartered brewery confirmed to Brewbound. Grossman, who had served as the craft brewery’s only CEO since the company opened in 1980, has transitioned into the role of chairman.”

https://www.brewbound.com/news/sierra-nevada-appoints-new-ceo-eyes-5-percent-growth-in-2019

I am curious to see whether Jeff White achieved his goal of 5% growth for 2019? Is the strategy of adding additional hoppy beers (e.g., Fantastic Haze) and 'Mexican' Lager (e.g., Sierravaza) to the year-round portfolio meeting that 5% goal? I suppose nixing beers like Nooner should be part of the discussion as well.

Cheers!

@jesskidden

 

I suppose we will have to await a press release from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. here?

Cheers!

 

I don’t use other sites other than BA, you have to choose your expert or reviewer. I don’t do untapped or any other beer site. For all I know they could be bogus reviews. So I trust the guys here, if they’re not catalogued here it doesn’t count.

 

Don’t shop at a store like that. Shop at stores that know how to purchase responsibly and protect their beer with cold storage. Hopefully you have something like that around you. If not... business opportunity

 

I don’t necessarily agree with your viewpoint. Or at least I don’t quite to the same degree. But “cuntitude” deserves high praise.

 

I'm most interested in seeing what consumers spent on craft beer in 2018 and 2019. I'm probably buying less volume, but spending more money.

 

And you will get that from the Brewers Association annual report (in March - April?).

Cheers!

 

Don't cheers me

 

While Total Wine does not protect the vast majority of their beer with cold storage, and they do have a reputation for being the place where old beer goes to die, this situation is not limited to them.

My favorite local store keeps 90% of their beer in refrigerated display cases (can't speak to the back of their store, but I do know one of the large display cases has an even larger cold storage behind it), but even there, the large "traditional" craft brewers are losing shelf space and their beer is aging on what shelf they have left. This situation applies to a couple of the larger locals as well, not just the likes of SN, Stone, and co. They are being pushed into smaller areas to make room for 293 different variations on local hazies/pastries plus the marketing muscle behind the captive craft brands, not to mention seltzers and ciders.

Fortunately, there still are a couple of other stores that maintain space at least for the European imports (and, TBH, Total Wine does a good job of that as well).

But, the national / large regional craft brands do seem to be suffering at the retail level in terms of shelf space at least.