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Insights & Analysis

Learn about craft brewery trends, including beer styles, packaging, brewery business models and market segments, demographics, and more.

Statistics & Trends

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President & CEO

Bart Watson, president and chief executive officer for the Brewers Association, is a stats geek, beer lover, and Certified Cicerone. He holds a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, where in addition to his dissertation, he completed a comprehensive survey of Bay Area brewpubs one pint at a time. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @BrewersStats.

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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

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Displaying results 1-10 of 50

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

Craft Beer’s Vibe Shift, Quantified A large group of people at the Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America®

Craft Beer’s Vibe Shift, Quantified

After years of difficult headlines, the craft beer industry entered 2026 with something it has missed: better vibes. But what’s actually driving that optimism? This data-driven “vibe check” explores brewer sentiment, consumer behavior, brewery closures, and shifting market realities to understand why the mood around craft beer feels different right now. From CBC conversations to younger consumers continuing to embrace craft, the numbers suggest the industry may be finding steadier footing. Challenges remain, but for the first time in a while, many brewers seem to believe the future is something worth building toward, not just surviving through.Read More

Displaying results 1-10 of 50