Growth

In this excerpt from their conversation for Craft Beer & Brewing Podcast Episode 400, editorial director Jamie Bogner and WeldWerks founder Neil Fisher look back on the industry’s past decade, looking for light to shed on its present and future.

The boom days are over, but in many ways independent breweries are in a better place than other alcohol producers and other hospitality segments. Meanwhile, pockets of growth remain.

Bucking the current headwinds to grow via distribution, Charlotte’s NoDa Brewing has ambitions to become no less (and no more) than the brand of the Carolinas.

Buying equipment is one of the most expensive things a brewery can do—and the process is fraught with risks. Here are some dos and don’ts from two experts on evaluating, buying, and transporting major gear.

Barring a dramatic shift in the forecast, independent breweries should be planning for a future of low—or even no—sales growth. The safest path forward includes reducing risk, optimizing cash flow, and focusing on profitability.

After three early years of explosive growth for Revision, the pandemic combined with leadership changes to slow the company’s roll. Yet Revision made it through—and the Nevada brewery has never been better prepared for the future.

The Lost Abbey and Port Brewing cofounder Tomme Arthur explains what it means to “grow down” for the long haul amid an increasingly competitive landscape for American brewers.

From growing down to Rising Hope, here are some recent news and announcements from around the industry.

From a 19th-century former church in Cincinnati, Urban Artifact is building a national reputation driven by heavily fruited, tart (and shelf-stable) beers and direct-to-consumer sales.

While some brewery owners seek a way out while keeping the brands they’ve built alive, others see opportunities to grow, diversify, and gain efficiencies.

With careful planning and carefree beers, the New Jersey brewery took itself from a Shore town taproom to a three-state powerhouse.

Innovation then, innovation now... One of the world’s most influential brewers shares insights into Sierra Nevada’s creative and technical processes, outlining their philosophy as they push into the “beyond-beer” realm.

New Orleans’ Urban South outpaced its own ambitious goals for Louisiana. Now it’s thinking big in Texas—and beyond.

A defunct brewery up for sale can be ideal for others looking to open or expand quickly—but this often comes with compromises on location, size, and space. Here, brewery operators who’ve recently been down that road share some lessons learned.

The pandemic dealt craft beer its toughest year in 2020. Production and market share dropped, but not as steeply as once feared—and there are plenty of reasons for optimism.

Firestone Walker has experienced rapid growth over the past decade, and a driving force in that success has been the vision of cofounder David Walker. In this conversation with Jamie Bogner, he offers advice to brewers following their own trajectories.

Recapitalizations may sweep through the craft-beverage world, according to Martin W. Saylor and John D. Wagner of 1st West Mergers & Acquisitions. But what is a recap? And how does it differ from an acquisition?

The times, they are a-changin’. Gone is the old startup mantra of “plan big for growth,” replaced by a lean “test the concept and grow with demand” philosophy. That's pushing equipment manufacturers toward innovative, scalable solutions.

Craft beer saw a continuation of steady growth last year—a mark that will inevitably be used to measure the negative impact of COVID-19 and the measures needed to curb it.

With a coffee shop, brewery, taproom, and kitchen all within a 10,000-square-foot space in the heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lamplighter Brewing is filling a need for the local community, no matter the time of day.