Less Than Half of Regional Craft Breweries Beyond Top 50 Increased Volume in 2022

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More regional craft breweries beyond the top 50 recorded a decline in production in 2022 than breweries that increased production, according to data published in the May/June edition of the Brewers Association’s (BA) New Brewer Magazine.

Just under 45% of regional craft brewers beyond the top 50 increased production last year, significantly below the nearly 80% that increased production in 2021, as the craft segment continues to battle distribution volume declines.

Of the 132 regional craft breweries beyond the top 50 – those who produce more than 15,000 barrels of beer annually and sell the majority of their volume through distribution – 62 (nearly 47%) recorded a decrease in production volume. Nearly half of those breweries (28 in total) recorded double-digit declines, up from only five breweries in 2021.

San Diego, California-based Modern Times Drinks, the 109th largest regional craft brewery, recorded the largest decline (-53%), cutting production in half from 54,206 barrels in 2021 to 25,503 in 2022. The decline followed a tumultuous year for the brewery, which was forced into a court-ordered receivership after defaulting on several loans. A sale process for the brewery followed, including a dramatic virtual auction, with winning bidder Anaheim, California-based Brewery X withdrawing its bid.

Modern Times was eventually acquired by Kihei, Hawaii-based Maui Brewing Company for $10 million – significantly below the more than $20 million originally offered by two other bidders. Maui Brewing CEO Garrett Marrero later merged the two companies to form Craft ‘Ohana. The collective was the No. 28 largest BA-defined craft brewery in 2022, producing just over 100,000 barrels of beer.

Maui Brewing Company would have made the top 50 on its own, outside of Craft ‘Ohana, at No. 37, after increasing production +22%, to 76,227 barrels, in 2022.

Longmont, Colorado-based Left Hand Brewing (No. 76) recorded the second largest production decline in 2022 (-26%, to 36,088 barrels), followed by two Massachusetts breweries: No. 154 Westminster-based Wachusett Brewing (-22%, to 18,345 barrels) and No. 123 Woburn-based Lord Hobo Brewing (-20%, to 22,600 barrels).

Other regional breweries to record double-digit declines include:

  • No. 65 Bellaire, Michigan-based Short’s Brewing Company (-13%, to 40,686 barrels);
  • No. 73 Oceanside, California-based Belching Beaver (-10%, to 38,700 barrels);
  • No. 74 Asheville, North Carolina-based Highland Brewing Co. (-15%, to 38,123 barrels);
  • No. 75 Decorah, Iowa-based Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. (-12%, to 37,217);
  • No. 83 Hood River, Oregon-based Full Sail Brewing Co. (-15%, to 34,000 barrels);
  • No. 93 San Diego, California-based Alesmith Brewing Co. (-15%, to 30,404 barrels);
  • No. 100 Missoula, Montana-based Big Sky Brewing Co. (-12%, to 27,789 barrels);
  • No. 102 Baltimore, Maryland-based DuClaw Brewing Company (-11%, to 27,000 barrels);
  • No. 104 Cape Canaveral, Florida-based Carib Brewery USA (-19%, 26,636 barrels);
  • No. 112 San Francisco-based Fort Point Beer Company (-11%, to 25,000 barrels);
  • No. 120 Bremerton, Washington-based Silver City Brewery (-11%, to 23,297 barrels);
  • No. 134 Durango, Colorado-based Ska Brewing (-17%, to 20,748 barrels);
  • No. 135 Denver, Colorado-based Great Divide Brewing Co. (-18%, to 20,741 barrels);
  • No. 144 Austin, Texas-based Independence Brewing Co. (-11%, to 19,200 barrels);
  • No. 145 Hampton, New Hampshire-based Smuttynose Brewing Co. (-11%, to 19,150 barrels);
  • No. 150 Fort Worth, Texas-based Martin House Brewing Company (-15%, to 18,800 barrels);
  • No. 153 Sparks, Nevada-based Revision Brewing Company (-17%, to 18,425 barrels);
  • No. 155 Livermore, California-based Altamont Beer Works (-10%, to 18,344 barrels);
  • No. 156 Richmond, Virginia-based Hardywood Park Craft Brewery (-12%, to 18,316 barrels);
  • No. 158 Ellensburg, Washington-based Iron Horse Brewery (-15%, to 18,293 barrels);
  • No. 161 Portland, Maine-based Lone Pine Brewing Company (-15%, to 17,997 barrels);
  • No. 163 Krebs, Oklahoma-based Krebs Brewing Co. (-12%, to 17,724 barrels);
  • No. 166 Cincinnati, Ohio-based Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. (-13%, to 17,500 barrels);
  • And No. 180 Placentia, California-based The Bruery (-10%, to 15,500 barrels).

Twenty-five regional breweries beyond the top 50 recorded double-digit production increases, led by No. 157 Milwaukee Brewing Company (MKE), which increased its annual barrelage +83%, to 18,311 barrels, obtaining regional brewery status for the first, after recording a +103% increase in 2021. MKE’s data was pulled from state reports, not directly from the brewery, and could include contract production, BA chief economist Bart Watson told Brewbound.

MKE’s output is expected to decline in 2023, following the separate sale of MKE’s intellectual property and production facility. The brewery listed its facility for sale as a turnkey operation in March 2022. The 70,000 sq. ft. facility, with an annual capacity of 75,000 barrels, was acquired by Chicago-based brewery incubator Pilot Project, while MKE’s intellectual property and recipes were acquired by Muskego, Wisconsin-based Eagle Park Brewing. Eagle Park will produce MKE’s portfolio at its Muskego facility, projecting 6,500 barrels in MKE volume in 2023, according to a September press release.

Cold Spring, Minnesota-based Third Street Brewhouse (No. 60) recorded the second largest production increase (+78%, to 44,688 barrels), last year celebrating a decade since the company was created as the craft beer arm for Cold Spring Brewing Company.

No. 146 Brewery X recorded the third largest production increase (+50%, to 19,100 barrels), following a +27% increase in 2021. Two Pennsylvania breweries followed with near-50% increases: No. 125 St. Marys-based Straub Brewery (+48%, to 22,126 barrels) and No. 97 Williamsport-based New Trail Brewing Company (+46%, to 29,470 barrels).

Other breweries with double-digit production increases include:

  • No. 58 Burlington, Vermont-based Zero Gravity Craft Brewery (+11%, to 46,300 barrels);
  • No. 61 Charlton, Massachusetts-based Tree House Brewery (+10%, to 44,000 barrels);
  • No. 68 Auburndale, Florida-based The Florida Brewery (+14%, to 40,000 barrels);
  • No. 72 Coronado, California-based Coronado Brewing Co. (+14%, to 39,000 barrels);
  • No. 79 Freeport, Maine-based Maine Beer Company (+20%, to 35,351 barrels);
  • No. 84 Brooklyn, New York-based Other Half Brewing Company (+13%, to 33,825 barrels);
  • No. 86 Nampa, Idaho-based Mother Earth Brew Co. (+20%, to 33,500 barrels);
  • No. 91 Atlanta, Georgia-based New Realm Brewing (+19%, to 30,895 barrels);
  • No. 95 St. Louis, Missouri-based Schlafly Beer (+21%, to 30,089 barrels);
  • No. 103 Seattle, Washington-based Reuben’s Brews (+10%, to 26,971 barrels);
  • No. 107 Alpine, Wyoming-based Melvin Brewing (+11%, to 26,000 barrels);
  • No. 110 Asheville, North Carolina-based Hi-Wire Brewing (+10%, to 25,325 barrels);
  • No. 117 Iowa City, Iowa-based Big Grove Brewery (+21%, to 23,849 barrels);
  • No. 126 Chicago-based Maplewood Brewing Company (+12%, to 22,040 barrels);
  • No. 131 Austin, Texas-based Pinthouse Brewing (+17%, to 20,954 barrels);
  • No. 160 San Diego, California-based Societe Brewing Company (+33%, to 18,000 barrels);
  • No. 171 Wakefield, Rhode Island-based Whalers Brewing Company (+10%, 16,989 barrels);
  • No. 172 Buffalo, New York-based Big Ditch Brewing Company (+10%, to 16,969 barrels);
  • No. 175 Fairfield, California-based Heretic Brewing Company (+14%, to 16,000 barrels);
  • No. 184 Lewiston, Maine-based Baxter Brewing Co. (+11%, to 15,119 barrels).

The remaining 34 breweries with an increase in production recorded single-digit percentage increase. Seven of those breweries fell just short of double-digit growth: No. 63 Russian River Brewing Co. (+8%, to 41,813 barrels); No. 89 Castle Danger Brewery (+9%, to 31,110 barrels); No. 105 Wiseacre (+9%, to 26,490 barrels); No. 128 Industrial Arts Brewing (+8%, to 21,000 barrels); No. 140 Indeed Brewing (+9%, to 20,100 barrels); No. 142 New England Brewing Co. (+9%, to 19,350 barrels); and No. 148 Urban Chestnut Brewing Company (+9%, to 19,000 barrels).

Three regional breweries would have made the BA’s top 50 list if contract production was included:

  • No. 13 Octopi Brewing and its offshoot Untitled Art (+38%, to a combined 220,000 barrels);
  • No. 28 Two Roads Brewing (-1%, to 104,025 barrels);
  • and No. 39 Brew Hub (-3%, to 73,000 barrels).

Similarly, No. 46 Montucky Cold Snacks (+21%, to 63,250 barrels) was also not included in the top 50 list as it produces its beer at Ninkasi Brewing and City Brewing, and the BA historically does not include “pure contract brewers” in the top 50, Watson told Brewbound.

Firestone Walker, included within Duvel Moortgat USA’s production in the top 50 list, would be the No. 4 regional on its own with 511,210 barrels in 2022, down -3% year-over-year. Duvel Moortgat, sans Firestone Walker, would be No. 14, with a flat 2022 at 177,000 barrels.

Eleven breweries beyond the top 50 were flat, each maintaining their production numbers after recording flat or increased production in 2021:

  • No. 67 Santa Fe Brewing Co. (40,000 barrels, flat in 2021);
  • No. 80 The Lion Brewery (35,000 barrels, +8% in 2021);
  • No. 82 pFriem Family Brewers (34,000 barrels, +47% in 2021);
  • No. 98 Red Oak Brewery (28,000 barrels, +8% in 2021);
  • No. 111 KettleHouse Brewing (25,130, +9% in 2021);
  • No. 141 Good People Brewing Co. (19,500 barrels, +10% in 2021);
  • No. 162 No-Li Brewhouse (17,800 barrels, +2% in 2021);
  • No. 167 Austin Beerworks (17,414, +12% in 2021);
  • No. 158 Kane Brewing Company (17,250 barrels, +6% in 2021);
  • No. 173 Starr Hill Brewery (16,500 barrels, +6% in 2021);
  • No. 187 Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. (15,000 barrels, +15% in 2021).

Twelve craft breweries from the 2021 regional brewery list fell off this 2022 list, no longer meeting the 15,000 barrel minimum, including:

  • Karl Strauss Brewing, shifted to brewpub status, 2022 production not listed (38,400 barrels in 2021);
  • Community Beer, shifted to brewpub status, 2022 production not listed (29,000 barrels in 2021);
  • Monday Night Brewing, shifted to a microbrewery, 2022 production not listed (23,000 barrels in 2021);
  • McMenamins, shifted to brewpub status with 13,300 barrels in 2022 (16,600 barrels in 2021);
  • Foothills Brewing Co., shifted to brewpub status, 2022 production not listed (29,773 barrels in 2021);
  • Jackie O’s Brewery, shifted to a microbrewery with 14,500 barrels in 2022 (16,500 barrels in 2021);
  • Tampa Bay Brewing Company, shifted to a microbrewery with 14,460 barrels in 2022 (17,153 barrels in 2021);
  • Eddyline Brewing, shifted to a microbrewery with 10,502 barrels in 2022 (16,500 barrels in 2021);
  • Knee Deep Brewing Co., shifted to a microbrewery with 11,700 barrels in 2022 (15,550 barrels in 2021);
  • Mighty Squirrel, shifted to a microbrewery with 14,522 barrels in 2022 (15,550 barrels in 2021);
  • Old Nation Brewing Company, shifted to a microbrewery with 14,100 barrels in 2022 (15,500 barrels in 2021);
  • Stony Creek Brewery, shifted to a microbrewery with 14,250 barrels in 2022 (15,000 barrels in 2021).

Nashville, Tennessee-based Bearded Iris Brewing Co., which obtained regional brewery status for the first time in 2021, does not have individual production numbers for 2022, as the brewery joined the Independent Brewers Union (IndieBrew) in late 2021, and is included in the No. 45 ranked collective’s numbers.

Other previously listed regional breweries not separated out individually include Bear Republic (recently acquired by Drake’s Brewing), Green Flash Brewing (acquired Tilray Brands in early 2022), BJ’s Brewhouse, MadTree Brewing, Trumer Brewery (folded into Gambrinus’ numbers with Shiner) and The Alchemist Cannery.