Craft Brewing and Distilling News for April 15, 2020

•U.S. craft beer volume growth held steady at 4% in 2019, as the overall beer market contracted by 2%, according to the Brewers Association. Last year, craft brewers produced 26.3 million barrels, up roughly 800,000 from 2018, whereas the beer market in total declined roughly 3 million barrels to 191.2 million (not including flavored malt beverages). Craft beer’s dollar share of the total category continues to grow, claiming just over 25% of dollar sales at $29.3 billion. The Brewers Association warns that it will be difficult for the craft industry to match its 2019 performance this year, citing a Nielsen report showing that the Covid-19 related shutdowns could cost craft brewers 1.3 million barrels in the four months through April.

•New York’s Cooperstown Distillery has expanded, increasing production capacity by over 400%. Owner and distiller Gene Marra tells SND that Cooperstown produced around 4,500 cases for 2019 and plans to reach 16,000 cases in 2021. The distillery produces a variety of white and brown spirits, including Cooper’s Random Rye, Cooper’s Legacy Bourbon, and Glimmerglass vodka, among others, and has also expanded its barrel-aging capacity. A new rickhouse will allow the company to mature 1,900 barrels of different sizes. In addition, Cooperstown will add a new bottling and labeling line to support the increased production.

Tagged : Brewers Association, Cooperstown Distillery

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