Craft Beer Matures – The Brewers Association’s Half Year Growth Results

The craft beer industry is still growing according to the BA who just released their mid-year results, and the biz is still growing but at much slower rate.

And according to Bart Watson, Chief Economist for the Brewers Association, the industry has stabilized and its growth reflects “a more mature market.”

This is how Bart sees the craft beer segment at this point in 2017…

“The growth pace for small and independent brewers has stabilized at a rate that still reflects progress but in a more mature market. Although more difficult to realize, growth still exists. The beer world is highly competitive and there is certainly a mixed bag in terms of performance.

Some breweries are continuing to grow, whereas others are having to evolve their position and nurture new opportunities to ensure they keep pace.

 Many brewers are benefiting from on-premises and taproom sales, and recent state-based reforms have the potential to help brewers in new regions capitalize on this growth.”

The BA is also reporting that as of June 30^th there were an astounding 5,562 breweries operating online in the US. That’s an increase of 906 breweries from the same time period last year.

And add to that figure the fact that according to the Brewers Association there are ANOTHER 2,739 breweries in planning!

And we expect that with numbers like that in a market that’s slowing…things  are going to get very interesting very soon.