American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
Maybe it’s the ongoing legalization of cannabis, the emergence of alternatives like hard seltzers and canned cocktails, or simply the growing sobriety movement. Maybe it’s all of these things to differing degrees, but whatever the reason, beer drinking in America has fallen to the lowest level in a generation.
And Oregon, once home to nearly 400 breweries, brewpubs, and taprooms which generate billions in output and income and tens of thousands of jobs, had a brutal 2024…
This from the Guild’s January 13, press release…
2024: Hardest Year for Oregon Craft Brewers
For the first time this century, more breweries, taprooms and brewpubs closed than new ones opened in 2024. Oregon’s brewers faced yet another challenging year in 2024, with more breweries, taprooms and brewpubs closing for a third year.
“It’s tough times for Oregon’s craft brewers,” said Sam Pecoraro, President of the Oregon Brewers Guild and Brewmaster of Von Ebert Brewing. “Between inflation, supply chain issues, employee shortages, a pandemic and a downward trend of drinking, these local businesses need the support of the public and lawmakers to survive.”
According to the Brewers Association, more breweries, taprooms and brewpubs have closed than new ones have opened – 399 closures compared to 335 openings nationwide in 2024. Since the pandemic, Oregon lost nearly 75 – at least 35 of those in 2024. Craft beer volume is also down -2% this year, as people are drinking less.
“I’ve seen it in my own taproom. People are going out less, especially since Covid. There is a lot of competition when it comes to a customer choosing to drink your beer, not just from other breweries, but many other beverage producers as well,” said Sonia Marie Leikam, cofounder of Leikam Brewing and member of the Oregon Brewers Guild. “We need to rally together to weather this storm. So please support your favorite local brewery.”
Beer is an essential part of Oregon’s identity and economy. Oregon is home to more than 300 breweries, brewpubs and taprooms generating more than $8.7 billion in economic output, $2.8 billion in wages, creating 50,000 jobs in the state. Unfortunately, some state lawmakers in the upcoming 2025 session are considering a tax increase proposal on these homegrown businesses despite a recent task force declining to recommend a tax increase and 87.5% of the public comments submitted opposed tax increases.
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