Craft Beer clocks in sales hike in declining market

In 2017, the overall beer market is to see a 1.5 percent decline in volume, but craft should enjoy five to six percent growth, according to the Brewers Association (BA).

Though rising still, craft beer’s growth rate will be below the double-digit rate of the previous decade.

Nonetheless, the volume growth compares favourably with the forecasted decline in the overall beer category.

There are also signs that the second half of the year has been a little bit better than last year, the BA said.

Incidentally, US homebrewers will have produced about 1.6 million hl beer in 2017.

Nearly 6,000 craft breweries are expected to be in operation by the end of this year, up from about 5,300 at the end of 2016.

The BA will release full year figures probably in March 2018.