In just a few short weeks this spring, the entire economy (and the beer industry along with it) was forced to reckon with a challenge for which there was no real playbook. With taprooms shut and people staying home, breweries that focused on selling beer over their bar watched their revenue disappear, and they went into survival mode. The long-term effects of the pandemic closures are unclear, but a Brewers Association survey of their member breweries suggests that the impact will be severe, causing tectonic shifts in the beer landscape. Here’s how brewery operators answered the questions posed. If the data don’t make it obvious, here’s the rub: Your favorite breweries need your business now more than ever.
