Craft Breweries are slowing down production, but more are opening
The Brewers Association s Craft Brewing Production report shows that small breweries struggled during the pandemic, but aren t closing their doors yet. Author: Ally Heath Updated: 9:43 PM MDT April 7, 2021
BOULDER, Colo. Small and independent breweries slowed down production for the first time ever in 2020. That s the first line in the Boulder-based Brewers Association s annual Craft Brewing Industry Production Report. Every year as we ve done since 1980s, we track the production (of) small and independent breweries in the United States. This year we measured that production down nine percent, said Bart Watson, the chief economist for the Brewers Association. That s the first decline we ve ever mentioned or ever measured and it means that it was a tough year for small brewers in the context of all the shifts that went on during COVID.