A confluence of factors – the reopening of the on-premise channel, distributed packaging sales, and monetary relief from the federal government – helped boost many of the country’s regional craft breweries to growth in 2021.
Nearly four-fifths of the regional craft brewers beyond the top 50 increased production in 2021, according to data published in the May/June edition of the Brewers Association’s (BA) New Brewer magazine.
Of the 148 regional craft beer companies beyond the top 50 — those that produce more than 15,000 barrels of beer annually and sell the majority of their volume through distribution — 118 recorded volume increases in 2021. That ratio (79.7%) is a marked improvement over the 56% of top 50 craft breweries that posted volume increases last year. It also signals improvement over 2020, when 55% of regional craft breweries outside the top 50 saw their volume decline during the height of pandemic-driven hospitality restrictions.
All rankings are from the BA’s 2021 data set, which excludes breweries that did not submit production numbers or asked they not be published and includes contract brewers such as Octopi.
Last year, only 22 of the 148 non-top-50 regional craft breweries recorded volume declines. Seven reported their volume was flat compared to 2020:
- No. 53 New Holland
- No. 71 Santa Fe
- No. 96 Community Beer
- No. 129 Calicraft
- No. 145 Braxton
- No. 165 Alchemist
- No. 197 Milwaukee Premium.
Several craft breweries’ volume increases elevated them into the regional brewer class from the microbrewer class, which the BA defines as breweries that primarily sell via distribution and produce fewer than 15,000 barrels.
The regional craft brewery that recorded the most growth in 2021 was Williamsport, Pennsylvania-based New Trail Brewing, which skyrocketed up 209 spots to No. 143. New Trail’s output increased +203%, to 20,156 barrels, propelling it from the microbrewery class to firmly inside the regional craft brewing class.
Cold Spring, Minnesota-based Third Street Brewhouse (No. 111) more than doubled its production, increasing 107%, to 25,081 barrels, also vaulting into the regional craft brewery class. In Austin, Texas, No. 165 Pinthouse, which the BA also ranked as the largest brewpub in its South Region, nearly doubled its output, increasing volume 107%, to 17,885 barrels, up from 9,331 barrels in 2020.
In the Pacific Northwest, Redmond, Washington-based Mac & Jack’s (No. 80) returned to growth with a production increase of +57%, to 35,117 barrels, following a -33% decline in 2020. Hood River, Oregon-based pFriem Family Brewers (No. 84) recorded +47% growth with 33,902 barrels, its highest production ever, which followed a -16% decline in 2020.
Baltimore, Maryland-based DuClaw Brewing (No. 90) also reached its highest output, growing +65%, to produce 30,201 barrels. Nashville, Tennessee-based Bearded Iris (No. 192) entered the regional brewery class for the first time with a +42% production increase, to 15,385 barrels.
Freeport, Maine-based Maine Beer Co. increased by more than half (+51%) and leapfrogged 33 spots to No. 94, with a highest-ever output of 29,532 barrels.
Breweries that entered the regional craft brewer class for the first time in 2021 included:
- Branford, Connecticut-based Stony Creek Beer (No. 198, increased +1%, to 15,000 barrels);
- Wakefield, Rhode Island-based Whalers Brewing (No. 191, increased +37%, to 15,385 barrels);
- Buffalo, New York-based Big Ditch Brewing (No. 190, increased +11%, to 15,489 barrels);
- Waltham, Massachusetts-based Mighty Squirrel (No. 187, increased +18%, to 15,521 barrels);
- LaGrange, Georgia-based Wild Leap (No. 185, increased +14%, to 15,569 barrels);
- Iowa City, Iowa-based Big Grove Brewery (No. 151, increased +37%, to 19,759 barrels).
Production increases in 2021 also returned several brewers to the regional craft brewery class after 2020 losses knocked them out. Those include:
- Buellton, California-based Figueroa Mountain Brewing (No. 196, increased +15%, to 15,000 barrels after a -39% decline to 13,000 barrels in 2020);
- Bend, Oregon-based Crux Fermentation Project (No. 194, increased +20% to 15,087 barrels after a -16% decline to 12,592 barrels in 2020);
- Norfolk, Virginia-based O’Connor Brewing (No. 193, increased +3%, to 15,350 barrels after a -5% decline to 14,950 barrels in 2020);
- Williamston, Michigan-based Old Nation Brewing (No. 188, increased +18%, to 15,500 barrels after a -26% decline to 13,179 barrels in 2020);
- Auburn, California-based Knee Deep Brewing (No. 186, increased +27%, to 15,550 barrels after a -35% decline to 12,201 barrels in 2020);
- Nashville, Tennessee-based Yazoo Brewing (No. 184, increased +28%, to 16,000 barrels after a -44% decline to 12,539 barrels in 2020).
Other regional craft breweries outside the top 50 that grew by 20% or more include:
- No. 57 Cape May, +28% to 45,806 barrels;
- No. 60 Octopi/Untitled Art, +29% to 45,000 barrels;
- No. 62 Zero Gravity, +53% to 44,900 barrels;
- No. 69 SanTan, +21% to 41,264 barrels;
- No. 80 Mac and Jack’s, +57% to 35,117 barrels;
- No. 84 Florida Beer Co., +39% to 34,120 barrels;
- No. 85 pFriem Family Brewers, +47% to 33,902 barrels;
- No. 90 DuClaw Brewing, +65% to 30,201 barrels;
- No. 91 Other Half, +25% to 29,895 barrels;
- No. 94 Maine Beer, +51% to 29,532 barrels;
- No. 96 Castle Danger, +25% to 28,600 barrels;
- No. 101 Sycamore, +39% to 27,767 barrels;
- No. 103 Breakside, +26% to 26,995 barrels;
- No. 107 New Realm, +29% to 26,050 barrels;
- No. 109 Huss Brewing, +21% to 25,963 barrels;
- No. 111 Third Street Brewhouse; +107%, to 25,081 barrels;
- No. 113 Great Divide, +20% to 25,000 barrels;
- No.114 Wiseacre, +32%, to 24,945 barrels;
- No. 123 Hi-Wire, +22% to 23,080 barrels;
- No. 124 Aslin, +31% to 23,000 barrels;
- No. 126 Revision, +20% to 22,272 barrels;
- No. 134 Dust Bowl, +28% to 21,120 barrels;
- No. 135 Coppertail, +20% to 21,000 barrels;
- No. 137 Hardywood Park, +24% to 20,776 barrels;
- No. 141 Altamont, +25% to 20,296 barrels;
- No. 142 Krebs, +26% to 20,232 barrels;
- No. 143 New Trail, +203% to 20,156 barrels;
- No. 150 Big Grove, +37% to 19,759 barrels;
- No. 152 Independence, +21% to 19,542 barrels;
- No. 155 Von Trapp, +33% to 19,415 barrels;
- No. 156 Mother Road, +45% to 19,386 barrels;
- No. 161 Country Boy, +39% to 18,115 barrels;
- No. 164 HenHouse, +20% to 18,000 barrels;
- No. 165 Pinthouse, +92% to 17,885 barrels;
- No. 171 Fall River, +35% to 17,480 barrels;
- No. 172 The Bruery, +27% to 17,225 barrels;
- No. 184 Yazoo, +28% to 16,000 barrels;
- No. 186 Knee Deep, +27% to 15,550 barrels;
- No. 191 Whalers, +37% to 15,385 barrels;
- No. 192 Bearded Iris, +42% to 15,367 barrels;
- No. 194 Crux Fermentation Project, +20% to 15,087 barrels;
- No. 195 Brewery X, +50% to 15,000 barrels.
Regional craft breweries that recorded double-digit declines include:
- Stratford, Connecticut-based Two Roads Brewing (No. 52, -12% to 49,600 barrels);
- Cloverdale, California-based Bear Republic Brewing (No. 79, -15%, to 36,827 barrels);
- Westminster, Massachusetts-based Wachusett Brewing (No. 122, -14% to 23,500 barrels);
- Boulder, Colorado-based Upslope Brewing (No. 138, -11% to 20,676 barrels);
- Somerdale, New Jersey-based Flying Fish Brewing (No. 179, -13% to 16,688 barrels).