Oregon's craft beer industry struggled in 2024
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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
The last year has not been kind to the craft beer industry, and Oregon has not been immune.
Why it matters: Oregon has long been at the forefront of the craft beer trend, with several breweries enjoying national recognition, so a downturn for the industry can have ripple effects beyond your local pub.
By the numbers: Across the country, more breweries, taprooms and brewpubs closed than opened in 2024, per stats from the Brewers Association, a nonprofit trade group.
- At least 399 such facilities closed last year, compared to 335 openings.
- Craft beer production was down 2%, the group said.
- Oregon has lost nearly 75 breweries, taprooms or brewpubs since the pandemic, with 35 of those coming in just the last year.
Zoom in: Some of the closures last year took out heavy hitters in the industry.
- Cascade Brewing, which pioneered the "NW Sour," closed its brewpub on SE Belmont after 25 years following the death of founder Art Larrance.
- Gateway Brewing, run by husband-and-wife team Joel and Karen Sheley, decided to wind down their business after seeing trends in the industry.
- Mt. Tabor Brewing started as a two-person team brewing on the flanks of its namesake dormant volcano, but after several moves and different locations, sales fizzled and pandemic challenges proved too much to overcome.
Driving the news: Sam Pecoraro, president of the Oregon Brewers Guild and brewmaster of Von Ebert Brewing, said there were many reasons for the slowdown.
- "Between inflation, supply chain issues, employee shortages, a pandemic and a downward trend of drinking, these local businesses need the support of the public and lawmakers to survive," he said in a written statement.
What they're saying: Sonia Marie Leikam, cofounder of Leikam Brewing, said she's seen all of that at play in her own taproom.
- "There is a lot of competition when it comes to a customer choosing to drink your beer, not just from other breweries, but many other beverage producers as well," she said in a written statement.
- If you want your local craft beer or taproom to survive, Leikam said, "please support your favorite local brewery."