Posted on 10/05/2025 4:49:40 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Once the darling of the alcohol industry, small-batch beer makers are shutting down because of increased competition and flagging interest.
For more than two decades, pints of lagers and ales flowed from the taps at 21st Amendment Brewery. An early mover in craft brewing, the bar and restaurant flourished in San Francisco’s South Park neighborhood, near the financial district and the Giants’ Oracle Park, serving its own specialties like Hell or High Watermelon beer.
But after 25 years, 21st Amendment, named after the constitutional amendment that made alcohol legal after Prohibition, will say “last call” for the final time later this month as it shuts its doors.
What’s happened to 21st Amendment isn’t unique, as craft breweries across the country shutter or file for bankruptcy at a rapid rate.
Sales of craft beer fell 4 percent last year, according to the Brewers Association, the lobbying arm for small and independent brewers. There have been more brewery closings than openings over the past 18 months, the first time that has happened in 20 years.
And the big beer companies, which built or acquired smaller craft breweries during the industry’s heyday, are now jettisoning some of those brands. Last year, Molson Coors sold four of its craft beer companies to a cannabis company, Tilray Brands. Brewers and others in the industry say they’re in the midst of a broader shakeout that will probably push more smaller breweries over the edge.
“We’ve been suffering with declining sales since Covid. Our San Francisco restaurant has not made money since 2019,” said Nico Freccia, co-founder of 21st Amendment. “We kept waiting for San Francisco to get better and come back, but it didn’t happen.”
There are myriad factors behind the contraction. Some craft brewers expanded at the wrong time, borrowing piles of debt as interest rates...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
It’s been going on for awhile now. Make crappy or mediocre beer, and your shelf life is going to be limited. With thousands of ‘craft’ beers but only hundreds of decent brew masters, it is inevitable.
Imagine that.
A casualty of Modelo, Corona, and illegal immigration. Americans have been drinking crappy beer for decades. It never put anyone out of business, until now.
A lot of these beer places popped up here in Minneapolistan.
A lot of these beer places are disappearing. SHOCKED.
For my part, I haven’t had a beer in years. At my age it seems that maintaining my health and waistline has become a priority. I’m also not wasting the money.
IPA Fatigue
A lot of these beer places are disappearing.
It's happening everywhere.
Baby Boomers are getting old and Gen Z is a bunch of teetotalers so I predict 20% of craft breweries will go out of business by 2030. As of 2024, there are 9,796 breweries in America so according to my estimate 2,000 will close.
“ A casualty of Modelo, Corona, and illegal immigration”
The price of even cheap beer has become unaffordable.
No one can afford a $10 pint.
The craft brews are $12-15+.
Might have to start brewing my own!!
This. Some of the craft breweries I've been to just weren't that good.
Besides, these days I live where I'd have to drive somewhere to go drink beer, and that isn't going to happen.
I have been seeing a LOT of hard soda pop taking shelf space that used to belong to microbrews.
The upcoming generation may just want a buzz,but not develop sophisticated or adult tastes.
Just as Gatorade is Kool-Aid for grownups (mostly), the hard sodas are Nehi for grownups who want kid flavors but with a buzz.
I’m bearish on any business selling carbohydrates.
I don’t normally drink beer as I haven’t had one in decades, but if and when I do, it will be a PBR if they still make it.
Being pretentious has got too expensive.
That's all you need.
Many of the craft beers go with over use of hops raising their International Bitterness Units to levels that are undrinkable. Many are India Pale Ales which have a hoppy, bitter style of pale ale with a strong hop flavor. IPAs typically have a higher alcohol by volume but this benefit trades taste for the alcohol.
Last beer I had was a bottle of Pilsner Urquell from Czechoslovakia. Fantastic ice cold, along with a fresh out of the oven NY pizza. Normally am a red wine drinker.
Anchor Steam, not a craft brewery, also recently closed in SF. Maybe it is a location problem. (And for the craft guys, how many people drink watermelon beer?
Yuengling Golden Pilsner when I can get it. I cook a lot with wines and beers as water substitutes in recipes but the stronger darker brews don’t do so well, they are too intrusive.
“We’ve been suffering with declining sales since Covid. Our San Francisco restaurant has not made money since 2019,” said Nico Freccia, co-founder of 21st Amendment. “We kept waiting for San Francisco to get better and come back, but it didn’t happen.”
There are myriad factors behind the contraction.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.