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Staff Economist

Matt Gacioch (he/him), staff economist for the Brewers Association, helps members make sense of the data that enable their businesses to thrive. He brings experience from market analytics, brewery operations, and consulting, along with an MBA, MS, and BS from the University of Michigan. Follow him on Instagram @craft_econ

See Matt Gacioch's Articles
Displaying results 1-10 of 46

The Graceful Exit: How Brewery Owners Plan Their Last Day

The Graceful Exit: How Brewery Owners Plan Their Last Day

Every brewery owner will eventually exit, even if the brewery continues on. This post explores three voluntary exit paths: passing the business on, stripping it down to preserve the strongest pieces, or winding it down with intention. Using recent examples from Icicle Brewing, Künstler Brewing, and Boone Valley Brewing, the exploration reframes exit planning as more than just a sale or a closure. For owners thinking about what they want to preserve, what they are ready to leave behind, and how to protect value, the right exit strategy starts before the decision becomes unavoidable.Read More

Brewery Visits Are Up. Wait, What? people enjoying beers outside at a craft brewery

Brewery Visits Are Up. Wait, What?

Brewery visits may be higher than ever, even as many taprooms continue to face difficult business conditions. This analysis estimates total brewery visits over time and explores why that growth may not feel evenly distributed across the industry. From the changing role of “power visitors” to regional and demographic differences in visitation, the data shows that craft drinkers are still going out to breweries. The challenge for individual businesses is turning those visits into stronger performance through positioning, hospitality, and giving customers a clear reason to choose their taproom.Read More

Sunrise: Brewery Openings Brewer carrying hoses

Sunrise: Brewery Openings

Who opens a brewery in today’s market? This analysis looks at recent brewery opening trends, including the rise of taproom and brewpub models, shifting geographic patterns, modest first-year production expectations, and the role of additional locations from existing breweries. Through data and real-world examples from new breweries in Illinois and Virginia, the post explores what today’s openings reveal about the future of craft beer: less about chasing scale, and more about hospitality, place, and finding the right customer occasion.Read More

Mixed Signals: 2026 Consumer Survey

Mixed Signals: 2026 Consumer Survey

What does the 2026 consumer landscape really signal for craft beer? This analysis breaks down the latest Brewers Association and Harris Poll Consumer Survey through a SWOT-style lens, separating meaningful trends from distracting noise. From stronger engagement among current craft drinkers to challenges reaching the broader population, the findings reveal where craft still has momentum and where brewers may need to focus their efforts. For anyone trying to understand today’s craft beer consumer, the data offers a useful view of the opportunities, risks, and shifting occasions shaping the category.Read More

Does Kevin Warsh Like Craft Beer? Kevin Warsh with Federal Reserve logo

Does Kevin Warsh Like Craft Beer?

A new Fed Chair rarely makes headlines in the craft beer world, but the decisions coming out of the Federal Reserve can shape everything from loan costs to how consumers feel about spending. This article examines what Kevin Warsh’s appointment as Fed Chair could mean for brewers, including potential shifts in monetary policy, inflation metrics, and market communication. While the outlook isn’t cause for alarm, the transition raises important questions about uncertainty, interest rates, and the broader economic environment. For brewery owners and industry watchers, these are central bank tea leaves worth reading.Read More

A Look Inside American Drinking Places Pouring beers at a bar

A Look Inside American Drinking Places

What’s happening inside today’s drinking place, and what does it mean for craft beer? This analysis explores how bars are evolving, from shifting draft share and style performance to changing consumer habits and venue types. While craft beer continues to over-index on draft, the on-premise landscape is becoming more competitive as neighborhood and sports bars grow while premium concepts decline. Using recent industry data, the post examines where craft is winning, where challenges remain, and why success in modern drinking places depends so critically on performance once you’re on the tap list.Read More

Displaying results 1-10 of 46