Flight Plans
Beer flights are an inevitable consequence of an industry that urges experimentation and then provides an endless array of products to experiment with.
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There are several distinct business models among craft breweries, including taproom and brewpub models, production breweries on both small and regional scales, as well as those breweries that are just getting started. Each one of these models comes with its own unique challenges and opportunities. Dive into these resources to learn best practices for your particular model.
Beer flights are an inevitable consequence of an industry that urges experimentation and then provides an endless array of products to experiment with.
Taprooms in particular showed a remarkable ability to adapt while many individual businesses struggled in 2020. They finished the year down just 0.1%.
Overall, brewpubs were hit harder than any other segment of craft beer in 2020, with production tumbling 19.3%. The impact varied from region to region.
Across the country, microbreweries facing widespread shutdowns and business restrictions just a couple of months into the year found ways to adjust and innovate.
Adding packaging, ramping up outdoor spaces, and finding other creative ways to keep customers engaged have been crucial to on-premise breweries’ survival.
With 2,058 microbreweries operating in 2019 among 8,275 breweries, the definition of “local” continues to tighten every year, creating a competitive challenge.
Nimble taproom breweries continue to be a growth engine for the craft beer industry, as their performance accounted for 37 percent of overall industry growth in 2019.
Brewpubs, which as a data set grew by 7 percent in 2019, continue to innovate and push the boundaries of beer and food while finding a restaurant/brewery balance.
A growing number of breweries who are fully committed to the triple bottom line are taking the next step and becoming Certified B Corporations.
Many wholesalers and retailers are eyeing successful brewery taprooms nervously; and their concern has resulted in a careful examination of the laws in several states.