Market outlook of the craft beer market in the US
Technavio’s market research analyst predicts the craft beer market in the US to grow at a CAGR of around 18% during the forecast period. The changing consumer tastes and preference is the primary growth driver for this market. The craft beer market accounted for around 11% of the beer market in the US in terms of volume during 2014. Consumers prefer locally produced beer as they feel a sense of pride in associating themselves with a beer produced in a particular region. Also, locally brewed beer is available in unique styles and flavors, which tempts consumers to buy such beer.
The rising popularity of gluten-free beer is anticipated to drive the market growth during the forecast period. Gluten-free beers are made from ingredients that do not contain glycoprotein. Grains such as wheat, rice, millet, sorghum, and corn are used as substitutes in place of barley to produce beer. For instance, Redbridge, a product of Anheuser-Busch, is a gluten-free beer that is made of sorghum.
Competitive landscape and key vendors
The craft beer market in the US is highly fragmented with the presence of numerous small, medium, and large vendors including international and regional players. The providers in this market compete on the basis of product differentiation, portfolio, and pricing. The intense competition among the vendors has resulted in an increased number of mergers, with smaller entities being acquired by or merged with major players.
The top five vendors in the market are –
- Boston Beer
- D.G Tuengling & Sons
- Gambrius
- New Belgium Brewing
- Sierra Nevada Brewing
Other prominent vendors in the market include Anheuser-Busch, Bell's Brewery, Brooklyn Brewery, Craft Brew Alliance, Deschutes Brewery, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Duvel Moortgat, Harpoon Brewery, Lagunitas Brewing, Matt Brewing, MillerCoors, Minhas Craft Brewery, Oskar Blues Brewing, and Stone Brewing.
Segmentation by brewery type and analysis of the craft beer market in the US
- Microbreweries
- Brewpubs
- Regional craft breweries
Microbreweries constituted 55% of the market share during 2014. Microbreweries are independent, small brewers that produce less than 15,000 barrels of beer per year, with 75% or more of their beer sold off-site.
Segmentation by distribution and analysis of the craft beer market in the US
The on-premise channel accounted for 56% of the market share during 2014. This segment is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. The on-premise segment consists of pubs, bars, and restaurants.
Product segmentation and analysis of the craft beer market in the US
- Indian pale ale (IPA)
- Seasonal
- Pale ale
- Amber ale
- Lager
- Wheat
- Bocks
- Fruit beer
IPA dominated the craft beer market in the US during 2014, with a market share of 24%.
Key questions answered in the report include
- What will the market size and the growth rate be in 2019?
- What are the key factors driving the craft beer market in the US?
- What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the craft beer market in the US?
- What are the challenges to market growth?
- Who are the key vendors in this market space?
- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the craft beer market in the US?
- What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the craft beer market in the US?
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