287 The Business Of Beer

What this episode covers

Data, Dollars, and the Business of Beer (feat. Matt Gacioch, Brewers Association) Host: Dave ZalatorisNetwork: Beer Media GroupCraft beer isn’t just passion projects and taproom vibes — it’s big business. On Episode 287 of Beer In Front, Dave digs into the numbers, trends, and realities shaping today’s beer industry with Matt Gacioch, staff economist at the Brewers Association. From rising costs and tighter margins to non-alcoholic growth and why January is brutal for breweries, this episode takes a clear-eyed look at where craft beer stands in 2026 — and where it’s headed.What You’ll Hear in This Episode The State of Craft Beer in 2026Why craft beer has shifted from “If you build it, they will come” to a Moneyball-style, data-driven industryWhat a “maturing market” actually means for breweriesWhy neighborhood taprooms and hospitality matter more than everCosts, Tariffs, and Tight MarginsHow aluminum, equipment tariffs, and inflation are squeezing breweriesWhy many breweries can’t raise prices without losing customersThe looming impact of 10-year lease renewals from the 2010s boomClosures vs. Openings: Context MattersWhy more closures than openings sounds scarier than it really isThe difference between individual brewery pain and industry-wide healthWhy shuttered brewery spaces are staying empty longerWhat Business Models Are WorkingWhy hyper-local, hospitality-focused breweries are holding up betterHow large regional craft breweries benefit from economies of scaleWhy distribution is harder — but not impossible — for new entrantsNon-Alcoholic & Low-ABV Beer GrowthWhy NA beer still has major runwayThe importance of occasion-based drinkingHow local breweries making NA versions of flagship beers could push the category forwardThe Rise of the 19.2oz StovepipeWhy high-ABV stovepipes make sense in today’s economyGen Z drinking myths vs. what the data actually showsSurviving Dry JanuaryWhy January is always the toughest month for breweriesProgramming, community, and creativity as survival toolsWhy breweries need to offer more than “just beer” in winterReasons for OptimismCraft beer’s role as a social connectorWhy community still wins — even in uncertain timesWhy beer isn’t a fad, and never has been🍻 Beers Featured on the Show Beer In Front (NA Edition)NA Ninja vs. Unicorn – Pipeworks Brewing CompanyA standout non-alcoholic double IPA with real body, foam, and bitterness — proof that NA beer keeps getting better.Additional Beer ReviewTurbo Reaper IPA – Three Floyds BrewingA West Coast-leaning IPA with bold can art, solid hop character, and easy availability (yes, even at Target).📰 Beer & Beverage News HighlightsDos Equis brings back The Most Interesting Man in the WorldGoose Island announces a new barrel-aged stout Ska Brewing enters the low-dose THC beverage spaceDogfish Head collaborates with Survivor on a new IPAAmerican Airlines adds Athletic Brewing NA beer to flightsSierra Nevada doubles down on sustainabilityAlarmist Brewing announces closure — a tough loss for Chicago beerBrewers AssociationBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beer-in-front--5704447/support.<a href="https://beermediagroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer...