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As those of you who read us regularly, understand all too well – we’re not geniuses – but as we do cover the craft beer industry daily. And as a result, we’ve got our own opinions about where things are going this year – and we might even be right about some of them!
More New Breweries & More Brewery Failures
The number of breweries operating in the United States reached an all-time high last year – and new brewery growth will continue in 2016. Happily we didn’t see the number of brewery closings that we expected to see in 2015 – we unfortunately will this year.
Big Beer’s Craft Beer Acquisitions Will Accelerate In 2016
2015 will be remembered as “the year of craft beer acquisitions” – a portent, we think, of even more ominous things to come. Going into the holidays Anheuser-Busch InBev went on a last minute buying spree scooping up Arizona’s Four Peaks Brewing Company, the UK’s Camden Town Brewery and Colorado’s Breckenridge Brewery. Once these deals are finalized, AB InBev will own eight craft beer properties including, Goose Island which they bought back in 2011 – and Blue Point, 10 Barrel, Elysian and Golden Road Brewing which they acquired earlier this year.
Firestone Walker, entered into a “partnership” with Duvel Moortgat last July, and Lagunitas sold 50% percent of their company to Heineken in September. And in one of the bigger stories of 2015, Constellation Brands purchased Ballast Point for an amazing $1 Billion dollars in November.
The bottom line is that as long as craft beer remains growth industry – it will continue to attract consolidation – and we predict that we’ll see those acquisitions accelerate in 2016
Cans, More Cans, a Whole Lot More Cans
No matter what your take is on the whole bottles vs. cans debate, canned craft beers have now entered the industry’s mainstream and are here to stay. And here’s some reasons why.
Sour Beer Sales Will Continue To Sweeten
Sours are currently America’s “It” beer and we expect that even more craft beer fans will discover and embrace them this year.
Naming Disputes and Trademark Litigation Will Continue
With more craft breweries than ever before operating within the continental United States naming disputes and craft beer litigation are only going to rise. The simple truth is that with more breweries producing more new beers than we ever dreamed possible – virgin beer names are fast becoming a rare commodity. As a result we will see more naming disputes this year and unfortunately more litigation.
