The obstacles facing the industry did not lessen compared to the previous year; in fact, they intensified. According to the BA survey, craft beer volume decreased by 5 %, a slightly steeper decline than last year (-4 %). While 2025 production figures will not be finalized until the Brewers' Production Survey in the first quarter of 2026, preliminary data from the third quarter of 2025 suggest continued weakening in the second half of 2025. Therefore, a slightly larger contraction than the mid-year figure can be expected for the full year 2025.
2025 will be the second consecutive year in which brewery closures outnumber openings. Throughout the year, the BA has recorded 270 new brewery openings and 430 closures.
“The days of relative calm are behind us, and brewers are adapting to these new and challenging situations,” said Matt Gacioch, BA economist. “Changes in consumer behavior, retail streamlining, increased costs due to inflation and tariffs, and greater competition were the main challenges in 2025. And yet, brewers are coping with it, adjusting their offerings and, in some cases, even their business models.”
