Maine Beer Biz is Recovering from Unprecedented Pandemic

Covid-19 clearly took its toll on Maine’s craft beer industry but a new report from Maine Brewer’s Guild points to things are turning around.

According to a new economic impact report undertaken by the University of Maine in collaboration with the Maine Brewers’ Guild, brewers in the Pine Tree State managed to add $260,662,701 to the state economy in 2020, despite the business interruptions brought on by an unprecedented pandemic.

The Guild’s biennial economic impact study looked at 2020 business results, covering the lowest point of the pandemic for many brewers when tasting rooms and brew pubs remained closed.

“Maine’s brewers have really built their brand by providing welcoming spaces and friendly service at their tasting rooms,” said Sean Sullivan, executive director of the Maine Brewers’ Guild. “When they lost that ability to bring visitors in, businesses took a hit. Of course, like many industries, our brewers also faced supply chain challenges, staffing shortages, and increasing costs.”

The good news is that recent data shows Maine brewers are back on track to grow their businesses and positive contributions to the state in 2022 and beyond.

While a few breweries did shutter amidst the pandemic, Maine’s brewery count continued to grow with 160 breweries now licensed in the state, up from the pre-pandemic number of 154.

And it’s not just the number of breweries- it’s also where they are located. Breweries have been opening all over the state, often filling in regional gaps where no other brewery existed.

According to Sullivan, there is still room for the craft brewing industry to grow in Maine. When brewers were asked for the latest report were asked how they felt about the future, an overwhelming 92 percent predicted their sales would grow over the next five years.

While predictions of growth often focus on the number of breweries in the state, the more telling metric is market share. Maine brewers were selling only about 9.5 percent of all beer sold in Maine in 2015. In 2020, that figure increased to roughly 14 percent and that was in the midst of a pandemic.

As the industry continues to mature, Sullivan expects to see small breweries play an important role.

According to the 2020 report, the average number of barrels produced by smaller breweries has more than doubled since the first economic report released in 2017. And while industry growth was long fueled by large brewers, that trend has reversed these days with small brewers driving a greater increase in employment and economic output in the state.

Other avenues for sales also buoyed Maine brewers, with beer delivery, beer to go, and the addition of food offerings helping to round out Maine brewers’ businesses during this pandemic.

“We’ve spent the past 10 years building a collaborative community of brewers, service providers, vendors, and beer fans in Maine,” added Sullivan. “This is a story of resilience, and it’s this same community which will help Maine brewers stand out in a crowded marketplace as we venture into this new economy.”

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The Maine Brewers’ Guild examines the economic impact of the industry biennially in collaboration with The University of Maine. The guild is committed to promoting the craft beer industry through education, legislation, and collaboration.

On March 31, 2022, the Maine brewers Guild will return to in-person events with the 2022 New England Craft Brew Summit, the Northeast’s largest industry conference on the business of beer.