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After decades of meteoric success, this year marked the first time since 2005 that more breweries closed than opened. The creativity and proliferation of craft breweries has permanently expanded America’s beer fridge, from bland lagers to bold I.P.A.s and barrel-aged stouts. Today, the majority of Americans live within 10 miles of a brewery, according to the Brewers Association trade group, with the number of producers ballooning from just 89, in 1978, to 9,906, in 2023. As a result, the craft brewing industry employs around 460,000 people nationwide. But after an extended period of breakneck growth, the number of breweries declined this year, with 335 craft breweries opening and 399 closing, according to the Brewers Association. This string of closures is symptomatic of an overall decline in beer drinking as the industry has steadily lost market share to spirits, flavored malt beverages, hard seltzers and other alcoholic drinks. And there’s more … Source: The New York Times Because content … “Content is everything the light touches.” — Ann Handley Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs Cheers! (née Sláinte!)🥂 At Cheers! we post original and shared content #Wine #Spirits #Liqueur #Beer #CraftBeer #BevAlc #MarketTrends #Insights #ConsumerBehavior #SEO #Content #FirstPartyData #DataStorytelling #Data ☀️☀️☀️ Stephen Carter King Chief of Growth and Marketing for Cheers! Market Analyst for Wine & Spirits, Beer, Craft Beer and BevAlc market trends, insights, and outlooks • Chief Strategist + CEO of Cheers! a Sláinte! Co. ☘️ Please Drink Responsibly!

Ballantine was founded in 1840 in Newark, New Jersey, by Peter Ballantine who emigrated from Scotland. Ballantine rented an old brewing site which had dated back to 1805. It was originally incorporated as the Patterson & Ballantine Brewing Company. Around 1850, Ballantine bought out his partner and purchased land near the Passaic River to brew his Scottish ale. His three sons joined the business and in 1857 the company was renamed, accordingly, as P. Ballantine and Sons. By 1879, it had become sixth-largest brewery in the U.S., twice as large as Anheuser-Busch. In the mid-1960s the company went into decline. It was losing market share to lighter lagers with less alcohol content. (Hmmm … sounds modern day familiar 🤔) Despite advertising efforts to revive the company, the owners agreed to sell the brand, the company, and all their assets … to the Falstaff Brewing Corporation. The name would be used for the next 115 years, until the company closed its brewery in 1972. And that’s part of the history of beer in America. “The best beers are the one we drink with fiends.” — Stephen Carter King Source: Beer History in America #BeerHistory in #America #NewJersey #Ballantine #ScottishAle #Falstaff #Beer #CraftBeer #NonAlcoholicBeer #Cider #Microbreweries #Taprooms #Brewpubs #ConsumerBehavior #BrandAwareness Slàinte☘️! ✦✦✦ Stephen Carter King Chief of Growth and Marketing and Strategy and ‘The Beerconomist’ & CEO of Beerconomy • Market Analyst • Speaker • Futurist & Author • with beer market trends, insights, data and forecasts Publisher: The Beerconomist

I'm a non-believer in whales and hype beers, and firmly believe that everyone deserves access to good beer. Chasing trendy hype beers often means overpaying for products with inflated value, manufactured scarcity, and overblown expectations. Instead of waiting in long lines or spending excessive money, you can explore a world of exceptional, affordably priced beers from local breweries. Craft beer is about discovery and pleasure, not stress or status don’t let the hype overshadow the experience and enjoyment. It's beer. I'll add the disclaimer that not all breweries make the same quality beer, but you still have access to good beer from off-premise bottle shops and grocery. #itsjustbeer #quality #unpopularopinion #barrelaged #pastrystout #craftbeer

🍺 Five tips to improve your beer tasting skills 🍺 👇 Register below to learn more in this upcoming session, hosted by Mirella Amato as part of the Craft Beer Professionals Fall Virtual Conference. 👅 This is the perfect chance for beer lovers to familiarize themselves with WSET's Systematic Approach to Tasting.

The creativity and proliferation of craft breweries has permanently expanded America’s beer fridge, from bland, mass-market light lagers to bold I.P.A.s and barrel-aged stouts. Today, the majority of Americans live within 10 miles of a brewery, according to the Brewers Association trade group, with the number of producers ballooning from just 89, in 1978, to 9,906, in 2023. As a result, the craft brewing industry employs around 460,000 people nationwide. “What better story of the American dream is there than all these breweries?” said Josh Deth, who founded Revolution Brewing in Chicago in 2010. But after an extended period of breakneck growth, the number of breweries declined this year, with 335 craft breweries opening and 399 closing, according to the Brewers Association. For my latest article in The New York Times, I look at the variety of factors driving closures, how breweries are adapting for survival, and how these closures are providing a lower-cost opportunity for the next generation of brewery owners. How are you seeing the market evolve in your city or region?

The #craftbeer industry, once marked by rapid expansion and innovation, is now facing a period of consolidation and #decline. Pioneers like Phil Bannatyne, who opened Cambridge Brewing Company in 1989 to introduce bold new beers, helped revolutionize American #beerculture. But after decades of growth, changing consumer tastes, rising competition, and the growth of alternative alcoholic beverages, many breweries are closing. In 2023 alone, more breweries shut down than opened. The downturn has been particularly challenging for #smallerbreweries, struggling with high overhead costs and low margins, while larger producers scale up or consolidate. Despite this, some see opportunity in the downturn—turnkey brewery spaces and used equipment are flooding the market at discounted prices.

Behind the Scenes at the Brewery: The Power of Blind Tasting Today at Rolling Mills Brewery, we held a blind tasting session, a practice that always reminds me of the incredible importance of sensory training in brewing. Blind tasting is more than just a fun exercise—it's a vital tool for brewers and anyone involved in the beer community. By removing labels and preconceived notions, we’re forced to rely solely on our senses to judge aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, and overall balance. It’s an invaluable process that sharpens our palates and helps us stay objective and grounded in our craft. For brewers, sensory evaluation is not just a skill but an art. It’s about understanding the intricate nuances of each ingredient and how they come together in harmony—or sometimes, discord. This training is crucial in maintaining consistency and quality, ensuring that every batch reflects the true character of the beer we intend to create. But blind tastings also serve a greater purpose—they bring our community together. It’s a celebration of beer in its purest form, allowing us to share knowledge, challenge our perceptions, and, most importantly, connect over a shared passion. These moments reinforce why we do what we do and highlight the importance of continuous learning and appreciation for the craft. Cheers to the sensory journey and the endless pursuit of brewing perfection! #Brewing #SensoryTraining #BlindTasting #CraftBeer #BeerCommunity #BrewingScience #BehindTheScenes #Mumbai #Pune

Legislative measures across the nation may impact the craft beverage industry, either positively or negatively. Here are some of the bills the Craft Wine Association is tracking related to direct shipping regulations for craft distillers, wineries, and breweries across key states. #craftwineries #wineindustry #directtoconsumer

Scotmid expands alcohol-free beer selection with local brewery partnership From 28 December 2024, Scotmid will stock Aberdeenshire based Burnside Brewery’s alcohol-free “Right to Roam IPA” and “Wayfinder Lager” in all its stores, providing award-winning craft beer options to those who like to enjoy a celebration without the moderation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eERV4NvD Scotmid Co-operative Burnside Brewery Steven Addison Steven Lewis Margo Macnab

According to the national Brewers Association, 2024 was the first time year in nearly two decades when the U.S. saw more craft breweries close than open. David Sobel, who owns Sobel's Obscure Brewery in Jeannette with his daughter Jackie, said the craft beer market was getting saturated. “There are just so many opening up,” he said. “There’s not a big enough market share to support it all." https://lnkd.in/gP75aMuA