The Beer Crisis: Are Craft Brewers Next To Be Hit By Economy?

The beer industry is often described as immune to economic downturns. After all, when people get laid off, they want to nurse their sorrows with a cold one, right?

It turns out that, as the beer industry has gone increasingly upscale, the answer to that question is no longer simple. In recent years, beer sales have been relatively flat except in one category--craft beers, which are made by small, independent brewers. Amy Mittelman, author of Brewing Battles: A History of American Beer, says that the heyday for such high-end, specialty beers could soon be over as consumers look to cut costs. Mittelman spoke to U.S. News about the future--and history--of the American beer industry. Excerpts:

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[ArturoYee]

Sales will go down - but good micro-brewers will stay. Bad/not efficient ones will shut down.
Economic Darwinism.

[montpelier28]

That's Magic Hat guy.

[JuniorNorman]

I drink Sam or other micros when 12 pack deals are available. I cant afford the $7.99-8.99 for Organic beer!Unionize Walmart and Home Depot so people can afford these products! I see aluminum 30 packs sold all over New Hampster. We need living wages and rising wages now our or economy will crash

[KCFreedom]

Back to bathtub punch & Sterno?

Please America, support your local and regional brewers. Don't give it all back to the majors again.

[dcrinaz]

Life is too short to drink bad beer! Really, beer is not a lifestyle choice, it is one of the major food groups, provided one is not alcoholic. The problem is that the United States has produced some pretty bad to mediocre beers until recently when the microbreweries started making real beer (barley malt, hops and water AND NOTHING ELSE, like some of the big breweries do--rice and corn do not belong in beer). Finally with American microbreweries like New Belgian and Sam Adams (not a fan, but others like it) Americans can finally choose a domestic beer that is as close to imported beer as possible.

Please do not let economic crises be the doom of quality, whether it be in automobiles or beer (just don't mix). Cut out one of your movie tiers on cable, buy the store brand blue jeans, get a Skagen watch instead of a Rolex (Skagens are great and not that expensive), buy a Toyota Camry and not a Lexus E-class, but do not abandon the progress the United States has made in beer! Long live the microbreweries!

[haveitoldyoulately]

Might as well jump on the bandwagon

At the end of the month, I'm finding it hard to buy those designer shoes I really wanted....or take that lunch at that high end restaurant I've been do looking forward to going to....or going to that luxury spa for the day....or taking that South of France vacation I always wanted to take.

Can I get on that bailout list?

[vladp]

i'll give up my guns and my religion, but i will still cling to my good beer.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Great, now we can't even buy good beer to help us forget the horrible reaming all of us have taken in the market. We are going to be reduced to drinking pi ss sold by Budweiser, Miller and Coors.

[darthdarcy]

What most of these wet brain beer drunk alcoholics drink morning noon and night isn't even really beer it's just chemicals made to look like beer that rots their brains and ruins their prostrates...and that always sells Budweiser, Bush the worst of the worst...

[Leahk]

Perhaps Queen of the Industry Cindy McCain will lend a helping hand!

[wdw102]

why should she?

[tomas0808]

No people always need drugs. The high end beer market will survive. What is gonna go down are gyms and doggie daycares, doggie washing establishments, gourmet dog food stores and the like. I can't wait. The whole urban dog thing is repugnant, when there are homeless people all over the place etc

[wdw102]

well how i take care of my dog is my deal..........homeless should just get off the drugs, take a shower and get a job

[stayinsouth1981]

My dog deserves food that is Certified to be what the manufacturer claims. I pay a little more because my dog is healthier on certain brands of food. If you think Ole Roy is good for your dog, I bet you love picking up the massive amts of pooh filled with .. FILLERS. Otherwise, I groom my dogs, buy Ivermectin at the feed store and give the shots I can to cut costs. Good Day.

[curiousasheck]

It would be nice if sober individuals were not being constantly paralyzed and ruined by leaders, bosses, and others making decisions with beer soaked brain cells for a while at least.

[cgrier61]

I'm sort of a "Joe Six Pack" and good beer is one of my few luxuries. I spend about $7.00 - $9.00 on a six pack of beer. I consume a twelve pack a week. If were unemployed I wouldn't buy beer yes, but I won't buy the cheap stuff (Pabst, Bud, Shlitz etc) as long as I am employed (down economy or not).

[DevilsLettuce]

If I loose my job, my last paycheck will be spent on buying home-brew equipment and supplies.

[ErnestineBass]

Now you're talkin'!

My first batch of hard (apple) cider should be ready to bottle soon. Ummm (I hope).

[wdw102]

maybe that is why you are worried........so many good choices.......wow

[stayinsouth1981]

Buy some vegetable seeds and plant a garden as well. It's fairly easy.

[Chavez08]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jezdukowski]

I had the EXACT same reaction.

[ajm8127]

Worst news I've heard in a while. Nooooo! Magic Hat, do not take away your Circus Boy! We love your Number 9 also, apricoty goodness.

[Chavez08]

Never heard of it. Give me link please!!