Trouble brewing: Craft beer meets a new reality
Challenging times | How times have changed! The U.S. craft beer industry, while not on life support, is now facing a period of significant challenges and shifts in market dynamics. The explosive growth since the euphoric projection a decade ago spawned a total of 9796 operating craft breweries in 2024 … but, like a malaise growing under the surface, it has also led to market saturation and fierce competition, especially in the current business environment with rising costs, changing consumer preferences, and a declining demand for craft beer.