Brewscape: The Latest Craft Beer Brand News

Brewers Association 2025 Year in Beer: Craft Full-Year Volume Expected to Be Worse Than Midyear -5%; Optimism for 2026

“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.

Approximately 9,778 small and independent craft breweries operated in the U.S. in 2025, with 268 breweries opening and 434 breweries closing, the BA reported. 2024 marked the first time closings (399) outpaced openings (335).

“While striking in headlines, closings still represent a relatively low percentage (4.4%) of total operating breweries, especially when compared against leisure and hospitality businesses broadly,” the BA wrote.

Craft breweries supported 443,000 jobs in the U.S. in 2025, and contributed $72.5 billion, compared to 460,000 jobs and $77.1 billion in 2024.

BA-defined craft volume declined 5% in the BA’s midyear report, and “contraction slightly beyond that midyear figure” is expected for the full year, according to the report.

“It’s tough to say for sure, but based off of some of the scan data and what we’re hearing from some of our members, there’s a chance it’s going to end up slightly lower than that 5%,” BA staff economist Matt Gacioch told Brewbound, clarifying that “slightly lower” means a steeper decline than 5%.

“The holidays are always an X factor,” he added. “If there’s a particularly strong last couple weeks of December, that could move things in the other direction, but that’s the best guess, looking into the crystal ball right now.”

It’s worth noting that the BA’s volume figures only include breweries’ beer volume – including non-alcoholic beer, but excluding hard seltzer, hard cider or other ready-to-drink adult beverages – and breweries expanding their offerings into other categories and segments is also contributing to overall trends, Gacioch said.

Gacioch also told Brewbound that there is increasing optimism for 2026, as there will be “a little less uncertainty” when it comes to headwinds such as inflation, tariffs and other supply chain impacts on both businesses and consumers.

“Consumers right now are feeling generally uneasy, and so for businesses, having less uncertainty is really helpful in planning, especially when there’s weeks and months lead time in terms of actually putting out [product] as well as ordering and all these factors that make it harder to do business well when swirling in a sea of uncertainty,” he said.

Anheuser-Busch to Sell 1 Brewery, Close 2

Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B) will sell one brewery and shutter another two.

The Goodman Group, a property developer with $6.8 billion in assets under its management, will acquire A-B’s brewery in Newark, New Jersey, with a plan to redevelop it for “industrial, manufacturing and logistics uses,” a company spokesperson said.

A-B plans to shutter its facilities in Merrimack, New Hampshire, and Fairfield, California, early this year. The changes follow A-B’s efforts to upgrade its U.S. manufacturing network.

“We will be shifting production from these three facilities to our other U.S. facilities and these changes will enable us to invest even more in our remaining operations and in our portfolio of growing, industry-leading brands,” A-B said in a statement.

All 475 full-time employees at the three facilities will be offered roles at other A-B facilities, as well as relocation stipends and training for roles at new locations. Those who opt not to relocate will receive severance packages. According to WARN Act filings, A-B is cutting 151 jobs in Newark and 238 workers in Fairfield.

The company does not expect these manufacturing changes to affect its wholesaler network in a significant way. Freight cost will not change.

The sale of Newark and closure of Fairfield and Merrimack will bring A-B’s brewing facility count to nine. The company’s remaining breweries are located in Baldwinsville, New York; Cartersville, Georgia; Columbus, Ohio; Fort Collins, Colorado; Houston, Texas; Jacksonville, Florida; Los Angeles, California; St. Louis, Missouri; and Williamsburg, Virginia.