Beer production volume is down according to the Brewers Associations’s annual beer production report for 2024.

The Brewers Association, the trade association representing America’s small and independent craft brewers has released the annual production numbers for the United States. In short, beer production is down.

Production.

Craft brewers (read the footnote below on the current craft brewer definition) across the U.S. produced 23.1 million barrels or (or 716.1 million gallons) of beer in 2024. That’s a down 4% from the 2023 production volume. The overall beer market (which includes non-craft designated breweries like AB InBev and Coors) fell 1.2% overall.

Craft market share stayed flat at 13.3%

The 10,000 brewery mark is still far away.

10,000 operating breweries in the United States is milestone many in the beer industry wanted to see crossed, somehow proving the country’s love affair with beer- a goal that is slipping away from us.

As of today, the U.S. has 9,612 breweries – including 1,934 microbreweries, 3,389 brewpubs, 3,695 taproom breweries, and 266 regional craft breweries.

2024 was the first year since 2005 (1,447 breweries) where the overall number of operating craft breweries declined nationwide. The total number of breweries in the U.S. dropped to 9,680, down from 9,747 in 2023.

434 breweries opened, 501 closed.

The 2024 Top 50 Highlights:

Tilray has jumped to #3, especially after acquiring brands like Shock Top, Terrapin Beer, and Blue Point. are driven by SweetWater, Alpine and Green Flash as well.

Stone Brewing, Bell’s Brewery, and Founder’s Brewing exit after acquisitions.

Additions:

• Barrel One Collective formed in 2024 from the merger of Mass. Bay Brewing Company and Finestkind Brewing LLC
• Craft ‘Ohana (Maui/Modern Times) : Reflects Modern Times’ acquisition by Maui Brewing.
• Hendler Family Brewing Company, emerging in 2024 as the parent company Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers (started in 2011), growing with acquisitions of Wormtown Brewery (April 2024) and Night Shift Brewing (October 2024). Collectively Massachusetts largest craft beer producer, projecting 100,000 barrels in 2025.
• Zero Gravity Craft Brewery- 1st appearance at #47, Burlington, Vermont.
• New Trail Brewing Co., based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, at #46.
• Monster Brewing Co. is the new name of former CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective, at #9. The name change to Monster Brewing Co. occurred in January 2024, after Monster Beverage Corporation announced that CANarchy would operate under the new name.

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