As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present an unprecedented challenge for breweries in 2020—with widespread layoffs and potential closures—the Brewers Association today released its annual “State of the Industry” growth report based on statistics from the previous year.
The numbers depict a continuation of what had become a familiar pattern of modest but steady growth in independent brewing over the past several years—a pattern that looks sure to be disrupted this year.
“Although craft brewers entered 2020 on a solid foundation, the beer landscape is dramatically different today than it was just a few months ago,” said Bart Watson, BA economist, in the announcement. “Breweries will be facing new realities due to the pandemic with extended closures, tight cash flow, societal shifts, and other economic variables in play. These 2019 figures will allow us to see how much COVID-19 affects small-brewer production and jobs.”