The truth is, in good times and in bad times, some people drink…but everybody eats. Brewpub owners might be in a better position to weather beer’s current downturn.

While craft beer overall finished the year down 5% from 2024, microbreweries had the most challenging year of any segment, falling 8.9% by volume in 2025.

The market is maturing, and taprooms are maturing with it. In 2025, taproom production was down 3.9%, reflecting the challenging times of the craft brewing industry.

The country’s remaining craft regionals—volume was down 5.9% overall for the segment—are surviving by adapting to a post-Covid generation that drinks less alcohol.

After a glimpse of improved trends in 2024, the U.S. beer industry shed volume at a historic rate in 2025. U.S. beer shipments declined more than 5%, or 10 million barrels.