Tough times for Mass. beer brewers amid nationwide downturn
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Six of the ten largest craft breweries in Massachusetts saw sales crater in 2024, an exclusive Axios analysis finds.
Why it matters: The figures indicate the Bay State's well-established beer scene is not exempt from the tough times plaguing the nation's brewing industry.
State of play: The state's largest brewer by far, Boston Beer Co., the maker of Sam Adams products, saw sales dip 23% in 2024 compared to the prior year, our analysis of Brewers Association data shows.
- Trillium Brewing, Berkshire Brewing Company, Greater Good Imperial Brewing Co., Lord Hobo Brewing and the Tasty Liquid Alliance (Aeronaut and Dorchester Brewing Co.) all saw declines.
- Sales of Lord Hobo, the ninth-largest brewer in Mass., declined 44% according to the data.
Yes, but: Four breweries in the top 10 saw sales hop upward in part thanks to a focus on new-wave beer styles that appeal to the shifting customer base.
- Those four: Barrel One Collective (Harpoon, Wachusett, Smuttynose and Long Trail), Hendler Family Brewing Company (Jack's Abbey, Night Shift and Wormtown), Tree House Brewery and Mighty Squirrel.
The latest: Barrel One bought out Greater Good this week.
Caveat: Boston Beer Company's Sam Adams brand is a huge player in the American beer industry and some wouldn't consider it very "micro" at all anymore, but the Brewers Association lists it among microbreweries.