The Brew Lounge: Brewers Association

Showing posts with label Brewers Association. Show all posts

Friday, August 10, 2018

Mid-2018 report: The craft segment is either growing or maintaining or Who Moved My Beer?

The beer glass is either half full and getting fuller or at least not getting more empty. Hm, let's think about that for a second. Basically there's a lot of breweries out there. Plenty more in the making. Plenty more beer being made and lots of people still interested in getting to know beer. But maybe not as many there used to be. Thing about statistical forecasting is that it takes quite a few data points to make conclusive statements about both current state and future trends.

Here's the Brewers Association's press release regarding its mid-year report on the state of the industry.

Brewers Association Reports Mid-Year Growth Pace Remains Stable for Small and Independent Brewers
Boulder, Colo. • July 31, 2018 — Growth for small and independent craft brewers remained stable for the first half of 2018, according to new mid-year metrics released by the Brewers Association (BA) — the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers. Production volume for the craft segment increased five percent during the first half of 2018.

“While more mature, the market continues to show demand for small and independent craft brewers,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. “There are certainly industry headwinds, but this stabilized growth rate is reflective of the market realities that exist for brewers today.”

As of June 30, there were 6,655 active breweries, up from 5,562 during a comparable timeframe last year. An estimated 2,500 to 3,000 breweries are in planning, based on active Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) licenses.

“The data demonstrate that 2018 is on pace to have the highest number of brewery openings and closings to date. However, even as breweries close, openings continue to far outpace the number that shutter,” added Watson. “New players looking to enter the space should be aware of the constructs of the current landscape, work to differentiate themselves and will need to make quality beer to succeed.”

Craft brewer definition: An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional. Small: Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less (approximately three percent of U.S. annual sales). Beer production is attributed to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Independent: Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member that is not itself a craft brewer. Traditional: A brewer that has a majority of its total beverage alcohol volume in beers whose flavor derives from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients and their fermentation. Flavored malt beverages (FMBs) are not considered beers.

About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 4,800-plus U.S. breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup^®, Great American Beer Festival^®, Craft Brewers Conference^® & BrewExpo America^®, SAVOR^TM: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew ConTM, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week^®. The BA publishes The New Brewer^® magazine, and Brewers Publications^TM is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S. Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com^® and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association^® and the free Brew Guru® mobile app. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

© Bryan J. Kolesar and The Brew Lounge, 2018. All content is owned and uniquely created by Bryan J. Kolesar. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Kolesar is strictly prohibited. Excerpts, images, and links may be used with advance permission granted and only provided that full and clear credit is given to Bryan J. Kolesar and The Brew Lounge with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Contact Kolesar at TheBrewLounge@gmail.com

Friday, May 11, 2018

Next week, not just any Beer Week. American Craft Beer Week

They've been doing this for quite a few years now. Did a little research through the annals of The Brew Lounge and found this fun post I did regarding ACBW back in 2011. Some sightings of brewers you may know.

The Brewers Association has been behind this nationwide push to showcase great American (craft) beer every May since 2006. Plenty going on around the country and this little link will help you with some of that. Though, around these Philly parts, I've casually come across only a few related events such as at Dogfish Head, HiJinx... okay, not really Philly, but maybe they're preoccupied with upcoming Philly Beer Week of its own. The press release follows.

Brewnite for Independence and Seek the Seal During American Craft Beer Week®

Celebrate Small and Independent Brewers Across the Country -May 14-20, 2018-

Boulder, Colo. • May 8, 2018—For the thirteenth consecutive year, small and independent brewers from coast to coast will participate in American Craft Beer Week (ACBW) from May 14-20. Presented by CraftBeer.com—the Brewers Association’s website for beer lovers—ACBW celebrates the country’s more than 6,300 small and independent brewers with events across the nation, including exclusive brewery tours, special beer releases, beer and food pairings, tap takeovers and more.

New this year, CraftBeer.com invites beer enthusiasts to toast independent craft brewers during ACBW by pledging to seek beers marked with the independent craft brewer seal. Those who pledge to seek the seal on the ACBW page on CraftBeer.com will receive their very own independent craft brewer seal pin as a badge of their support.

“While beer lovers regularly enjoy their favorite independent craft beers, American Craft Beer Week is a special occasion that provides craft beer enthusiasts across the country with the opportunity to take part in a larger movement and unite for independence,” said Jess Baker, editor in chief, CraftBeer.com. “This year, we encourage beer lovers to seek the seal and remind them to support independent craft brewers during American Craft Beer Week.”

To help beer lovers brewnite this year, CraftBeer.com created a mosaic made up of beer bottles and cans from across the country featuring the independent craft brewer seal.

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Industry data shows craft segment still growing, now to over 6,300 brewing establishments

Continuing the press release sharing this morning, I have one from a couple weeks back from the Brewers Association that you should find interesting, particularly if you're the number-crunching kind.

Small and Independent Brewers See Sustained Growth in 2017

Brewers Association releases new data figures for craft brewers

Boulder, Colo • March 27, 2018—The Brewers Association (BA)—the trade association representing small and independent¹ American craft brewers—today released 2017 data on U.S. craft brewing² growth. With over 6,300 breweries operating during the year, small and independent craft brewers represent 12.7 percent market share by volume of the overall beer industry.

In 2017, craft brewers produced 25.4 million barrels, and saw a 5 percent rise in volume³ on a comparable base and an 8 percent increase in retail dollar value. Retail dollar value was estimated at 26.0 billion, representing 23.4 percent market share. Microbreweries and brewpubs delivered 76 percent of the craft brewer growth. Craft brewing’s growth occurred in the context of a total beer market which dropped 1 percent by volume in 2017.

“Growth for the craft brewing industry is adapting to the new realities of a mature market landscape,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. “Beer lovers are trending toward supporting their local small and independent community craft breweries. At the same time, as distribution channels experience increased competition and challenges, craft brewer performance was more mixed than in recent years, with those relying on the broadest distribution facing the most pressure.”

Additionally, in 2017 the number of operating breweries in the U.S. grew 16 percent, totaling 6,372 breweries, broken down as follows: 3,812 microbreweries, 2,252 brewpubs, 202 regional craft breweries and 106 large or otherwise non-craft brewers. Small and independent breweries account for 98 percent of the breweries in operation. Throughout the year, there were 997 new brewery openings and only 165 closings— a closing rate of just 2.6 percent. Combined with already existing and established breweries and brewpubs, craft brewers provided more than 135,000 jobs, an increase of greater than 6,000 from the previous year.

“Beer lovers want to support businesses that align with their values and are having a positive impact on their local communities and our larger society,” added Watson. “That’s what small and independent craft brewers are all about. The ability to seek beers from small and independent producers matters.”

To educate beer lovers about which beers are independently produced, the BA launched the certified independent seal in June 2017. More than 3,100 independent brewers have committed to adopting it.

Notes: Numbers are preliminary.

¹An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional. Small: Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less (approximately 3 percent of U.S. annual sales). Beer production is attributed to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Independent: Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member that is not itself a craft brewer. Traditional: A brewer that has a majority of its total beverage alcohol volume in beers whose flavor derives from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients and their fermentation. Flavored malt beverages (FMBs) are not considered beers.

²Absolute figures reflect the dynamic craft brewer data set as specified by the craft brewer definition. Growth numbers are presented on a comparable base. For full methodology, see the Brewers Association website.

³ Volume by craft brewers represent total taxable production.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Local beers to drink this week during Craft Brewers Conference in Philadelphia

With nearly 150 events confirmed to take place during the next week during Craft Brewers Conference/World Beer Cup in Philly, there's no shortage of places to go and things to drink around town. Industry professionals will be hunkered down at the Convention Center (unless of course they have a good excuse to sneak away) and consumers will be chasing them and their beers at bars all around the city.

I've been keeping a running list of confirmed events over here via this link.

But, what about the local brewing scene? I haven't done an exact calculation for how many of these events are focused exclusively on out-of-state - some licensed just for the week - but my unscientific calculation shows a very large percentage.

So what about our local breweries? I put together a list. I know, I know. Another list. But this one I believe will help you more than the average internet list of things.

Check out the list of Top 20 beers for visiting conference-goers to find when in Philly during the next week. And, if you're here already, you're in luck and have a head-start on everyone else. Remember, too, to use PhillyTapFinder.com for up-to-date draft lists.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Craft Brewers Conference/World Beer Cup 2016: Where To Drink/What To Do in Philadelphia

NOTE: My original commentary from 4/20/16 has been moved to the bottom to get you to the event listings faster.

Our local breweries and bars are not rookies in putting together events throughout the year. Here's what's on tap thus far and open to the public from May 2-7. It's where you'll get to drink some of the area's and country's finest beers and rub elbows with some of the industry's brightest. Of course, as usual, please let me know if I'm missing anything.

(Find my top recommendations, as of 4/22, over at this link)

Alla Spina
  Wed. May 4 — Happy Hour with Goose Island
  Thu. May 5 — Sour Happy Hour with Almanac Beer Co.

American Sardine Bar
  Wed. May 4 — Coronado
  Thu. May 5 — Cinco de Mayo w/ Ballast Point

Bainbridge Street Barrel House
  Mon. May 2 — Hosting Saltwater Brewery
  Tue. May 3 — Hosting Shelton Brothers Importers and their UK brewers and beers
  Thu. May 5 — Hosting Lakefront Brewery and Sprecher Brewing
  Thu. May 5 — Hosting Bruery and Bruery Terreux
  Fri. May 6 — Hosting Bunker Brewing and Finback
  Sat. May 7 — Hosting Voodoo Brewery

BarLy
  Mon. May 2 — St. Benjamin Event
  Tue. May 3 — Stone Brewery Event
  Wed. May 4 — Dominion Pinup Girl Event
  Thu. May 5 — Lancaster Brewing Company Event

Bottle Bar East
  Tue. May 3 — Hardywood Park
  Wed. May 4 — Destihl
  Thu. May 5 — Stone
  Fri. May 6 — Burial Beer
  Sat. May 7 — Wicked Weed

Brick and Mortar
  Mon. May 2-Sat. May 7 — Ballast Point Tap Takeover

Brü
  Tue. May 3 — CBC '16, Take 1: Almanac and Forest & Main
  Tue. May 3 — CBC '16, Take 2: Surly and Gigantic
  Wed. May 4 — CBC '16, Take 3: Jolly Pumpkin
  Wed. May 4 — CBC '16, Take 4: Maine Beer Company
  Wed. May 4 — CBC '16, Take 5: Green Bench and Wicked Week
  Thu. May 5 — CBC '16, Take 6: Fat Head's
  Thu. May 5 — CBC '16, Take 7: Prairie and Grimm
  Thu. May 5 — CBC '16, Take 8: Cascade
  Fri. May 6 — CBC '16, Take 9: Shelton Imports

City Tap House-Logan Circle
  Tue. May 3 — Bell's Brewery Eccentric Cafe Experience
  Thu. May 5 — Cinco de Sunlight at Collaboration Station

City Tap House-University City
  Tue. May 3 — New Belgium & Friends
  Wed. May 4 — Charlie Bravo Charlie; $100

Clarkville
  Thu. May 5 — JDub's Brewing Night

Coeur
  Tue. May 3 — 2SP + Bagby Brewing
  Wed. May 4 — The Montreal Express Brasserie Dunham + Trou du Diable + Dieu du Ciel + Les Trois Mousquetaires

Devil's Den
  Mon. May 2 — Ballast Point Tap Takeover
  Tue. May 3 — Terrapin Brewing Tap Takeover
  Wed. May 4 — Ommegang, Boulevard, & Duvel
  Thu. May 5 — Michigan Brewer's Guild
  Thu. May 5 — Stone Brewing Tap Takeover
  Fri. May 6 — Sour Beer Invitational

Electric Factory
  Thu. May 5 — Mastodon presented by Surly Brewing Co., Champion Brewing Co. and BSG Craft Brewing; $32.50

Fado Irish Pub
  Wed. May 4 — Craft Beer Pub Quiz

Fergie's Pub
  Tue. May 3 — Firestone Walker Beers, Bonney, Sweets, and Dice

Field House
  Thu. May 5 — Yards Comedy Night After Party

Fox & Hound
  Wed. May 4 — Craft Malt Tap Takeover; $Free

Good Dog Bar
  Mon. May 2 — Two Roads & Sly Fox Event
  Tue. May 3 — Firestone Walker Event
  Wed. May 4 — Brooklyn Beer Event
  Thu. May 5 — Green Flash & Alpine Beer Event
  Fri. May 6 — Yards Beer Event

Han Dynasty
  Tue. May 3 — Happy Hour with New Belgium

Hawthornes
  Mon. May 2 — Sole Artisan Ales and Bunker Brewing
  Wed. May 4 — Surly and Friends Rare Beer House Party
  Thu. May 5 — Kings of Queens
  Fri. May 6 — Who Doesn't Like A Threesome

Heritage
  Wed. May 4 — Hop Trüb Lime Machine 80's Bash

Johnny Brenda's
  Tue. May 3 — Introduction of Brotherly Suds

Jose Pistola's
  Tue. May 3 — Late Night with Joe Gunn: CBC Edition
  Wed. May 4 — Late Night with Joe Gunn: CBC Edition
  Wed. May 4 — Brasserie De La Senne & Bagby Beer Company
  Thu. May 5 — Cinco de Mayo Block Party Featuring Yards Brewing

Kite & Key
  Mon. May 2 — New Belgium
  Tue. May 3 — Firestone Walker Lunch
  Wed. May 4 — Green Flash

Local 44
  Wed. May 4 — Tired Hands + Bluejacket

Lucky's Last Chance
  Tue. May 3 — Tuesday Tapping with Mispillion River
  Tue. May 3 — Late Night with Green Flash/Alpine
  Wed. May 4 — Great Divide Joins Us on Whiskey Wednesday
  Fri. May 6 — Happy Hour with Stone Brewing

Martha
  Wed. May 4 — A Barrel-Aged Symposium with Scott Vaccaro of Captain Lawrence
  Thu. May 5 — Great Minds Think Alike: Jester King, Green Bench, and Tired Hands
  Fri. May 6 — Martha Goes to Space! with Other Half Brewing, Oxbow and Monkish

McCrossen's Tavern
  Tue. May 3 — Hop Till You Drop with Evolution and Fat Head's
  Thu. May 5 — Sour Showcase with Free Will Brewing Company
  Fri. May 6 — Get Goose'd
  Sat. May 7 — Honey Bunches of Hall and Oats

Memphis Taproom
  Wed. May 4 — The Mighty Memphis Taproom Welcome Wagon: Sly Fox welcomes Stone and Draai Laag
  Thu. May 5 — The Mighty Memphis Taproom Welcome Wagon: SØLE and Forest & Main invite Burial Beer Company and Other Half
  Fri. May 6 — The Mighty Memphis Taproom Welcome Wagon: 2SP hosts Half Acre and Wiseacre

MilkBoy
  Tue. May 3 — CBC After Party with Ship Bottom Brewery

Monk's Cafe
  Tue. May 3 — Wicked Weed
  Wed. May 4 — New Belgium class; $45

Moriarity's Irish Pub
  Mon. May 2 — Green Flash & Alpine CBC Welcome Party

National Museum of American Jewish History
  Thu. May 5 — Amber Waves; $35

Philadelphia Brewing Company
  Thu. May 5 — International Beer Run

Prohibition Taproom
  Tue. May 3 — Goose Island CBC Tap Takeover
  Wed. May 4 — DMV does Philly

St. Benjamin Brewing Company
  Wed. May 4 — Kumpelbier Firkin Tapping

Smokin' Betty's
  Tue. May 3 — Food Pairing with Green Flash and Alpine

Standard Tap
  Wed. May 4 — May the 4th Galactic Pageant
  Fri. May 6 — Tired Hands, Stone, and Other Half
  Sat. May 7 — Sour Brunch

Strangelove's
  Mon. May 2 — Pink Boots Society / CBC Kick Off
  Tue. May 3 — Victory Brewing + Australian Hop Growers Association
  Wed. May 4 — Brewery Pile Up (Perennial + Half Acre + JDub's + Free Will)
  Thu. May 5 — Brewery Pile Up (Neshaminy Creek + Night Shift Brewing + Against The Grain)

The Abbaye
  Tue. May 3 — U Buy The Glass: Taste of the Carolinas
  Wed. May 4 — U Buy The Glass: Weyerbacher

The Bishop's Collar
  Tue. May 3 — Jimmy Meiers & The Beers
  Wed. May 4 — 10 Barrel & More Event
  Fri. May 6 — Meet New Belgium's Head Brewer

The Cambridge
  Mon. May 2 — CBC Trio: Almanac, Half Acre, and Wiseacre
  Tue. May 3 — Short's 24 Tap Takeover
  Wed. May 4 — Lakefront Brewery Happy Hour
  Thu. May 5 — Funky Buddha, 3 Ways of Speedway, and more

The Industry Bar
  Mon. May 2 — Brooklyn Beer Pairing
  Tue. May 3 — Stone Brewing Late Night Snack & Beer Pairing Event
  Wed. May 4 — Fat Head's Rare Beer Event
  Thu. May 5 — Iron Hill World Beer Cup Event
  Fri. May 6 — Ballast Point Hawaiian Friday Beer Event

The Institute
  Mon. May 2 — I want Can-dy!
  Tue. May 3 — Slinging Suds with Southern Tier
  Wed. May 4 — Fun with Flying Dog and Play Doh!
  Thu. May 5 — Fun with Flying Dog and Play Doh!

The Khyber Pass Pub
  Tue. May 3 — Founders Takeover
  Wed. May 4 — Baird Beer Event
  Thu. May 5 — Epic & Elevation Event

The P.O.P.E.
  Tue. May 3 — Surly Tap Takeover

Tio Flores
  Wed. May 4 — 10 Barrel and Tacos

Tria Taproom
  Tue. May 3 — 4 Countries, 4 Brewers, 4 Beers: Shelton Brothers Showcase
  Wed. May 4 — A Romantic Evening with Dr. Bill and Rare Barrel-Aged Beers from Stone Brewing Company
  Thu. May 5 — The Wonderful World of B. United International

Tria Cafe-Fitler Square
  Wed. May 4 — Nebraska - Not Just A Bruce Springsteen Album

Tria Cafe-Rittenhouse Square
  Wed. May 4 — We Lost Our Opening Staff to El Segundo - a Tria Alumni Reunion

Tria Cafe-Washington Square
  Thu. May 5 — No Attitudes, Just Beer: Happy Hour with Surly Brewing Co.

Trocadero Theatre
  Thu. May 5 — Yards Comedy Night

U-Bahn
  Tue. May 3 — CBC Underground #1: Founders
  Wed. May 4 — CBC Underground #2: Hwy. 128 Happy Hour
  Wed. May 4 — CBC Underground #3: New Holland Jamboree
  Thu. May 5 — CBC Underground #4: Firestone Walker
  Thu. May 5 — Beer-lesque: Vixens, Vintages, & Variety; $20
  Fri. May 6 — CBC Underground #5: Tröegs

Union Transfer
  Wed. May 4 — We CAN Jam

Varga Bar
  Thu. May 5 — Moscow Mule and Greyhound Lunch
  Thu. May 5 — The American Cinco De Mayo Party of the Year
  Fri. May 6 — The Officially Unofficial Award Show After Party Award Show

Xfinity Live! — CANCELLED
  Wed. May 4 — Philadelphia Craft Beer Invitational; $35

Yards Brewing Company
  All Week — CBC Week

In case you weren't aware, roughly 13,000 industry professionals will be in Philadelphia from May 2-May 6. While their conference doings are closed to the public — as is typical at this sort of convention — parties and events of all shapes and sizes will be taking place all around town and many will be open to all.

I couldn't wait to finish mowing last night because I was stewing up a rant about the variety of events that I'd become aware of in recent weeks surrounding the upcoming Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) and biennial World Beer Cup (WBC).

Lacking a centralized promotional vehicle for the city's bars and breweries (and I'll be pleased to be corrected if I'm wrong), during the past couple weeks I've gathered what I've found in PR e-mails, FB postings, and random tweets and whispers in the wind. And until later last night, I sensed a real lack of focus on local breweries in these scheduled events.

After a couple more hours of sifting through yet more leads (which I imagine will continue right up until May 2), I now have a list of over 75 events in the first week of May coinciding with CBC/WBC. Quite a few bar events that I see are on the list now have a more proper focus on the breweries of the immediate Philly city and suburbs.

Still missing, however, is an event or events that focus on what we are often fond to say that we're proud of, but maybe haven't done the best job of representing to the broader market. Yes, I know the market is irrationally fixated on IPAs and beers masquerading as IPAs in name but aren't really IPAs. But we've always talked a big game in the lager world.

We trot out Dock Street's Royal Bohemian Pilsner, Sly Fox Pikeland Pils, Stoudts Pils, Tröegs Sunshine Pils and Troegnator Double Bock, and Victory Helles and Prima Pils as beers that have stood the test of time. They're joined by newer guys on the scene such as 2SP's DelCo Lager, Philadelphia Brewing's Kenzinger, and Neshaminy Creek's Trauger Pils and Churchville Lager.

While the rest of the country has slowly caught up with their own lager brewing, the greater Philadelphia region has excelled in this area for quite some time. So hey bar event organizers, let's recognize that. You say that a lager-ish, session-ish type of beer event is a tough sell for bars? Remember that these 13,000-ish brewers, owners, reps, and other industry personnel are not your typical customers.

It was Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head that was recently quoted: "At CBC, you’ll learn about your own business. At Philly Beer Week, you’ll learn about Philadelphia consumers." And Tomme Arthur echoed similar sentiments in the same article with "The two events reach totally different audiences, which is why I’m coming back for both. Any brewery that thinks they’re going to reach consumers at CBC is crazy."

Sure, they want the sours, the double IPAs, the barrel-aged stouts, and the oddly spiced one-offs. But there are already plenty of those events around this year's CBC and, quite frankly, available in many other parts of the country where these attendees call home. They're coming to Philly and they've heard that we've got a great pub culture and a spectacular lager-based history (have you told them where they can find the John Wagner historical plaque in Northern Liberties — have you seen it?). Let's show them.

Well, that wasn't quite the rant I initially imagined. There are still gaps to be filled on the CBC/WBC off-site events calendar. And hopefully I'm still to be pleased as the coming weeks unfold.