(Courtesy Anheuser-Busch)

The beer biz never sleeps at American Craft Beer. And here’s just some of what’s been happening in the beer world while you were enjoying the weekend.

Anheuser-Busch To Close Several Breweries in 2026

Anheuser-Busch has confirmed it will close several US breweries in 2026 as part of an ongoing effort to streamline operations and modernize its manufacturing footprint.

The closures will include the company’s brewery in Merrimack, New Hampshire, as well as a facility in Fairfield, California. In addition, Anheuser-Busch plans to sell its Newark, New Jersey, brewery to the Goodman Group. According to a company spokesperson, approximately 475 full-time employees across the three locations will be impacted by the changes.

The company said all affected full-time employees will be offered roles at other Anheuser-Busch facilities within its U.S. network, along with relocation stipends and training to build skills for their new locations. Employees who choose not to relocate will be eligible for severance packages and access to additional support resources.

Anheuser-Busch framed the move as the latest step in a broader, multi-year effort to “update and modernize” its U.S. manufacturing operations. Over the past five years, the brewer has invested roughly $2 billion in more than 100 facilities nationwide, focusing on efficiency upgrades and long-term sustainability.

“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 company spokesperson said.

The decision comes as the beer industry continues to adjust to changing consumer preferences and rising costs. Beer volumes have softened in recent years, particularly for legacy brands, while demand has grown for non-alcoholic beer, flavored malt beverages, and other alternatives. For large brewers with extensive production networks, consolidating output into fewer, more efficient facilities has become an increasingly common strategy.

While Anheuser-Busch emphasized that it remains committed to domestic brewing, the closures are likely to have a significant impact on the communities involved. Many of the affected breweries have long histories and serve as major local employers, making the transition a difficult one for workers and local economies alike.

For Anheuser-Busch, the 2026 closures underscore how even the biggest players in beer are continuing to reshape their operations to match a market that looks very different than it did just a few years ago.

Words To Drink By

“Always respect your superiors; if you have any.” – Mark Twain, American writer and entrepreneur

Top 10 Beer “Moments” In UK

A beer just tastes better at certain times and the Liverpool Echo News recently ran with a recent poll by Vocation Brewery that listed UK beer lovers’ Top 10 moments.

1. The Country Pub Beer (40%)
2. The Beer Garden Beer (39%)
3. The First Beer on Holiday (38%)
4. The BBQ Beer (33%)
5. The “Sun’s Out” Beer (33%)
6. The Pre-Match Beer (21%)
7. The Clocking-Off Beer (21%)
8. The Hotel Bar Beer (19%)
9. The Airport Beer (16%)
10. The Waiting-for-a-Takeaway Beer (12%)

More proof that sometimes it’s not just what you’re drinking — it’s when.

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