Craft beer’s pandemic slump

• A 9% decline in craft beer sales
• A 22% tumble in retail dollar value to $22.2 billion, or 23.6% of the market
• 14% decrease in jobs

The big picture: The total beer market fell 3%, on par with the 2% decline in 2019.

• Craft beer now represents 12.3% of total market share, down from 13.6% the prior year.
• The numbers don’t include sales of hard seltzers.

What’s happening: The small, independent beer makers that meet the association’s definition of craft beer rely overwhelmingly on sales across the bar, whether in taprooms, brewpubs or bars.

• The industry made a massive shift to offer to-go packaging and delivery, but couldn't make up for the in-person experience that drives the industry.

The outlook: Bart Watson, the association’s chief economist, expects craft beer will show growth in 2021 but not exceed pre-pandemic levels until 2023.