Brewers Association Reports Sustained Growth for Craft

So I guess the brown bar in 2013 is basically Yuengling

 

I thought it was Sam Adams. 2013 yellow is using the 2million bbl limit?

 

They changed the wording last year, so Yuengling and others that use adjucts, are now "Craft".

 

I would guess two of the bigger breweries added by the change were D. G. Yuengling and Son and August Schell.

 

The change in the B.A.'s definition of "small brewer" from a limit of under 2 million barrel to 6 million barrels (allowing Boston Beer Co. to remain "craft" for that and subsequent years) was announced in January, 2011.

 

I didnt realize either was added, I thought they were both still considered non-craft.

I realized they had changed the wording, but I didnt realize it brought Yuengling in. There was a bid deal made about the wording change but I didnt see that mentioned. That is a big deal.

At least it clears up the inconsistency between Yuengling and Shiner.

 

That was what confused me. I knew they changed that in 2010, but I couldnt figure out who else was large enough to make up that gap.

 

So who does the "Traditional" exclude now, Mikes?

It looks like the 6 million size is the only legitimate standard any more.

Edit: Which is interesting, as that is what Schell's argued for, that it should be a small brewers association, not a craft brewers association.

Edit to Edit: It still doesnt explain Anchor being included.

 

JMO, but it always seemed to me like they were adding all that other stuff about "traditional", etc., to make it appear that size and ownership were not the only real criteria. It was always inconsistent, since use of adjuncts and non-traditional ingredients is common across the craft brewing industry.

I don't know for sure that D. G. Yuengling and Son and August Schell are now included, but I think they are. I guess we'll know when the Brewers Association updates their list of the largest craft brewers.

 

In several articles about the change, B.A. Director Paul Gatza was very vague about which breweries would be moved from "non-craft" to "craft". For instance:

“If one assumes that brewers like Yuengling and Minhas and Schell’s fit the new definition, between them, they would add over a share point.” ("Assume"? You're the director, don't you know? ).

Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association headquartered in Boulder, Colo., said Tuesday that to the best of his understanding of Yuengling's operation, it would fit the craft brewer data set starting with the 2014 statistics...

Gatza says there are a handful of very old brewers in our country who have used corn or rice in their beers for over 100 years....The Brewers Association is currently compiling a list of what breweries fall under the "craft brew" definition. That list is expected to be released in 2015. Some breweries that may qualify: D.G. Yuengling & Son and August Schell, brewers that have been around for over 100 years.
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So, especially from that last paragraph, it appears that the B.A. is going to decide - thumbs up or thumbs down style - for each individual brewery that previously was considered non-craft due to adjunct usage for it's flagship or majority of its barrelage.

 

As of the 2013 Industry Review, they arent included.

I guess when the 2014 one comes out next May, we will know for sure.

 

Statistics and bureaucracy are like peas and carrots. The ones that do one justifies the other. While I'm no anti-science observer, lobbying, politics, friendship, and locale seem to often skew and confuse things. Yuengling makes a fine product and Sam Adams needs to be included amongst something other than BMC. However, given all of the BS, how come Sierra Nevada makes great beer quietly and right in front of us every single day? I read these graphs and really don't care at all about any of them- except for the ones that show erosion in sales of the big traditional plonk slingers. After work today, I stopped by my favorite local and had a Wicked Weed Freak of Nature and watched young and old drinking damned good beers just like it should be. Knowledge of a better beer product is seeping into our culture. It's happening faster than we know. Cheers.

 

Well the member list doesnt help
http://ba.brewersassociation.org/memberlist/members.aspx?memtype=BREW
D.G. Yuengling is listed, but so are obvious non-craft members like all the AB locations.

 

Honestly, the only thing that concerns me about these extra breweries is whether or not the market can handle all of these players.

In a small state like VT, there's only so many ways that you can grow before you hit a peak. I worry that some breweries will never find their niche and end up going under. More players means you gotta step up your game.

 

Ive mentioned it before, but there is a local restaurant forum I read that constantly gets complaints like "Oh no, not another pizza place!" I admit, my hometown probably has too many, but so what? If they suck, they go away, and if they are good, then good, another option.

 

The restaurant business is an extreme example of this sort thing, as half of all new restaurants close within 18 months. But there will come a "Great Fining" as the small, mediocre breweries close their doors, the small, good breweries thrive and the larger, good breweries grow as well. If tiny breweries like The Alchemist continue to thrive under their current business model, with no plans to expand, more power to them. Contrary to the old business adage, if you aren't growing, you aren't necessarily losing.

 

I suppose that the next thing you'll say is that nice guys don't necessarily finish last! The nerve! My step dad used to take great pleasure in telling me that I was too nice for business. He got fired from every job he ever had and sank several businesses. My dad used to tell me it took too much effort to be an ass, and it was easy to be nice. He died young but was a great businessman. Those that make good product and treat their customers well will prevail.