The Brewers Association — the trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers — released its annual production figures for the U.S. craft brewing industry on Tuesday.
And the numbers aren’t great.
Craft brewers produced 23.1 million barrels of beer in 2024, a 4% decrease from 2023.
Also, for the first time since 2005, the overall number of operating craft breweries declined nationwide.
The number of operating U.S. craft breweries in 2024 was 9,612, including 1,934 microbreweries, 3,389 brewpubs, 3,695 taproom breweries, and 266 regional craft breweries. Over the year, 434 new breweries opened, while 501 closed.
“In a mature market, not every year is going to be defined by substantial growth,” Matt Gacioch, the Brewers Association’s staff economist, said in a release.
“While progress may not come in additional production volume, it can still come in honing operations, business practices, and world-class beer. Even in this challenging environment, small brewers have demonstrated that they have the skills and resilience to fight through this period to be better positioned for the months and years ahead.”
Small and independent craft brewers have been grappling with shifting beverage preferences, rising ingredient costs and increased competition.
Now, tariffs on imported brewing equipment, steel kegs, aluminum cans, and ingredients such as hops and malt threaten to exacerbate the situation for breweries, which often operate on tight profit margins.
The bottom line is this: small breweries are struggling — including those in Memphis — and they need your support now more than ever.