How the cost of breweries' beer has risen
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U.S. breweries have been charging bars, restaurants and distributors more for wholesale draft beer over the past five years, federal data shows.
Why it matters: The rising cost offers some insight into why consumers might be seeing more expensive pints of lagers and IPAs on menus.
By the numbers: The wholesale cost of draft beer in barrels and kegs from domestic breweries increased about 15% from January 2020 to December 2025, an Axios analysis of producer price index data shows.
- It spiked at the end of 2025.
Between the lines: This producer price index for the brewery industry measures how beer prices have changed over time for sellers, not consumers.
- It doesn't show prices in dollars.
The bottom line: The upward trend reflects the increased costs to brew beer and operate production facilities as ingredients, labor, rent and utilities get more expensive.