Annual Craft Brewing Industry Production Report and Top 50 Producing Craft Brewing Companies

Boulder, Colo.— (Updated April 22, 2025) The Brewers Association (BA)—the trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers¹—today released its annual production figures for the U.S. craft brewing industry², highlighting the new realities of a maturing market in a rapidly evolving environment.

Craft brewers produced 23.1 million barrels of beer in 2024, a 3.9% decrease from 2023³. Craft’s market share by volume dropped slightly to 13.3% as the overall U.S. beer market* declined by 1.2% in volume.

Employment in the craft brewing sector increased to 197,112 in 2024, a 3.0% rise from the previous year. The rise was driven by the shift toward hospitality-focused models such as taprooms and brewpubs, which create more jobs in local communities.

Craft beer’s retail dollar value rose to an estimated $28.9 billion, a 3% increase over the previous year. This growth reflects pricing adjustments and steady performance in onsite sales, which outpaced distributed sales in many markets. Craft beer accounted for 24.7% of the total beer market in retail dollar sales.

In 2024, there were 9,861 operating U.S. craft breweries, including 2,034 microbreweries, 3,599 brewpubs, 3,948 taproom breweries, and 280 regional craft breweries. 2024 was the first year since 2005 that the number of breweries that closed outpaced brewery openings nationwide. Yet, the total number of breweries in the U.S. increased to 9,922, up from 9,838 in 2023. Over the year, 430 new breweries opened while 529 closed. Although openings declined for the fourth consecutive year—reflecting a maturing and highly competitive industry—the closure rate remained relatively low at approximately 5%.

“In a mature market, not every year is going to be defined by substantial growth,” said Matt Gacioch, the Brewers Association’s staff economist. “While progress may not come in additional production volume, it can still come in honing operations, business practices, and world-class beer. Even in this challenging environment, small brewers have demonstrated that they have the skills and resilience to fight through this period to be better positioned for the months and years ahead.”

Small brewers are already grappling with rising ingredient costs, shifting consumer preferences, and increased competition in a saturated market. Tariffs on imported brewing equipment, steel kegs, aluminum cans, and key ingredients such as hops and malt only exacerbate these financial pressures. These added costs can be particularly challenging for small and independent breweries, which often operate on tight profit margins. As a result, many are forced to delay expansion plans, raise prices, or absorb losses—further compounding the headwinds already challenging the craft beer industry.

“There is still plenty of room for optimism in our industry,” added Gacioch. “Brewers’ proven ability to connect with their customers’ evolving preferences will lead to more opportunities for craft beer success stories into the future.”

The Brewers Association also published its annual rankings of the top 50 craft brewing companies⁴ and overall U.S. brewing companies by beer sales volume. In 2024, 41 of the top 50 overall U.S. brewing companies were small and independent craft brewers.

“While distribution is only becoming more competitive, the top 50 list reflects some of the strongest, most emblematic companies in craft beer,” said Gacioch. “Enduring brands continue to resonate with drinkers—regardless of size or location. In 2024, eight new breweries moved into the top 50 craft list since the year prior—evidence that brewers are still finding ways to lean into what’s working.”

Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies

City/State: Corporate headquarters or largest production facility.

Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies

City/State: Corporate headquarters or largest production facility.

View and download the lists of the top 50 producing craft brewing companies and the top 50 producing overall brewing companies.

Note: Numbers are preliminary. For additional insights, visit Insights & Analysis on the Brewers Association website. The complete 2024 industry analysis will be published in the May/June 2025 issue of The New Brewer, highlighting regional trends and production by individual breweries.

* Figures do not include FMBs/FSBs

¹An American craft brewer is a small and independent brewer. Small: Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less (approximately 3 percent of U.S. annual sales). Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Independent: Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by a beverage alcohol industry member that is not itself a craft brewer. Brewer: Holds a Brewer’s Notice issued by the Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau, or its successor, or control the intellectual property for one or more brands of beer, has that brand or brands brewed for it in the United States, and have as its primary business purpose the resale of the brand or brands it controls.

²Absolute figures reflect the dynamic craft brewer data set as specified by the craft brewer definition. Growth numbers are presented on a comparable basis.

³Volume by craft brewers represents total taxable production.

 ⁴Figure based on companies that met the craft brewer definition for all or part of 2024.

View a list of brands included under the companies in the overall brewing category.

Media Contact: Jessie Vandenhouten (on behalf of the Brewers Association) 970-963-4873 ext. 1220

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About the Brewers Association

The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers, and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 5,600-plus U.S. breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The Brewers Association organizes events, including the World Beer Cup^®, Great American Beer Festival^®, Craft Brewers Conference^® & BrewExpo America^®, National Homebrew Competition, and American Craft Beer Week^®. The BA publishes The New Brewer^® and Zymurgy^® magazines, and Brewers Publications^® is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S. Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com^® and about homebrewing via the American Homebrewers Association^®. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 13672 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.