Craft Brewery Numbers Fall as Closures Outpace Openings
**Craft brewery operating totals declined** in mid-2025, with the Brewers Association reporting 9,269 craft breweries in June — a 1% drop from earlier figures and part of a broader trend of more closures than openings in 2025 (Brewers Association, 2025). (Brewers Association, 2025)
Craft Volume Weakness Persists Into Late 2025
**Craft beer volume was estimated down about 5% at midyear**, and scan data from Q3 2025 suggested continued softening in the back half of the year, leaving the association to expect full-year contraction beyond midyear estimates (Brewers Journal, 2025). (Brewers Journal, 2025)
Market Consolidation and Rationalization Drive Strategy Shifts
**Retailer rationalization and heightened competition** are cited as key pressures forcing breweries to adjust offerings and business models, with the Brewers Association noting inflation, tariffs and shifting consumer behaviour as compounding factors in 2025 (Brewers Association, 2025). (Brewers Association, 2025)
Brand and Portfolio Moves Among Major Brewers
**Large brewers continued asset reshaping in December 2025**, with Anheuser-Busch reported to be selling Newark and closing facilities while shifting production across its network, illustrating portfolio realignment in response to demand and cost pressures (Beer Business Daily, 2025). (Beer Business Daily, 2025)
On-Premise and Non-Alc Dynamics Offer Opportunity
**Non-alcoholic beer and low-ABV formats showed strong growth on-premise**, with on-premise data pointing to a 33.7% year-over-year rise for non-alc beer and sizable YOY gains in non-alc IPAs and stouts — signalling a clear consumer gravitation toward moderation and healthier options (Craft Brewing Business, 2025). (Craft Brewing Business, 2025)
Consumer Trends: Premiumization, Health, and Hyper-Localization
**Premiumization and health-conscious drinking** were recurrent themes: direct-to-consumer channels, premium offerings and low/no-ABV innovation are forecast drivers for craft growth through 2030, while hyper-local sourcing and limited releases remain influential in consumer engagement strategies (IBISWorld, 2025; Tastewise, 2025). (IBISWorld, 2025) (Tastewise, 2025)
Category Mix: RTDs and Alternative Formats Gain Traction
**RTDs and spirits-based ready-to-drink products are reshaping the beverage set**, with trade coverage in late 2025 highlighting major brand activity in RTDs and the shifting competitive terrain for beer versus malt and spirits-based alternatives (Beer Business Daily, 2025). (Beer Business Daily, 2025)
Regional Snapshot: U.S. Taproom Closures and Local Movements
**Individual taproom moves continued to make local headlines**, including the closure and relocation of notable independent taprooms in U.S. markets — a microcosm of broader shrinkage and realignment at the local level (PorchDrinking, 2025). (PorchDrinking, 2025)
Data Signals for Brewers
**Scan and on-premise data point to a choppy 2025 but selective growth paths**, suggesting breweries prioritise portfolio focus, cost discipline and innovation in low-ABV and premium segments to capture shifting consumer preferences (BeerBoard; CGA/On-Premise Impact data cited in Craft Brewing Business, 2025). (BeerBoard, 2025) (Craft Brewing Business, 2025)
Sources: Brewers Association, 2025 (The 2025 Year in Beer); Brewers Journal, 2025 (North American brewing industry reacts to year of change); Beer Business Daily/BeerNet, 2025 (industry reports); Craft Brewing Business, 2025 (On-Premise Impact Report); IBISWorld, 2025 (Craft Beer Production industry analysis); Tastewise, 2025 (Craft Beer Trends). (Brewers Association, 2025) (Brewers Journal, 2025) (Beer Business Daily, 2025) (Craft Brewing Business, 2025) (IBISWorld, 2025) (Tastewise, 2025)