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Sarah Bryan
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Maine Brewers’ Guild chief sees more changes on tap for state's craft industry in 2025
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Nationwide in 2024, the number of brewery closings outpaced the number of new business openings, according to the Boulder, Colo.-based Brewers Association.
Following a bumpy ride for the U.S craft beer industry in 2024, the head of the Maine Brewers’ Guild predicts a shifting landscape for brewers in the Pine Tree State.
“It is likely that we will continue to see further business model changes through the coming year as breweries seek new paths to balance growth and innovation in an evolving landscape,” Sarah Bryan, executive director of the Maine Brewers' Guild, told Mainebiz.
Her remarks come as Auburn's Side By Each Brewing Co. gets ready to close for good after six years in business and Newcastle-based Oxbow Brewing Co. acquires Rising Tide Brewing Co., its longtime business partner in Portland. Bryan said she is saddened by the loss of Side By Each, which will be missed by its community.
“As mergers and acquisitions are increasingly shaping the craft beer industry nationwide, in Maine our few examples of craft brewing consolidation have been unique in their creation and largely formed by ways of personal relationships, thoughtful strategy, and in the ethos of collaboration,” Bryan noted.
“Looking to 2025, we expect that if there is additional brand unification it will largely be a result of local partnership," she added.
She also said that while Maine-made beer is not immune to the challenges facing craft brewers across the country, its craft brands "will continue to serve as a leading standard of entrepreneurial spirit and craftsmanship."
'Painful period'
Nationwide, 399 brewers closed in 2024, outpacing 335 new business openings in the $77.1 billion industry, according to data released last week by the Boulder, Colo-based Brewers Association.
“Craft has been going through a painful period of rationalization as demand growth has slowed and retailers and distributors look to simplify their offerings or add options for flavor and variety outside of the craft category,” said Bart Watson, the trade group’s chief economist and vice president of strategy and membership.
“Breweries have reacted to these changes by focusing on distribution, continuing to innovate in their taprooms and brewpubs, creating groups and partnerships, and offering a wider range of beverages in their portfolios," he noted.
Among 2024’s hottest market trends identified in the report are a boom in non-alcoholic beer and increased customer-experience offerings at tap rooms from cocktails and dining to family-friendly activities.
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