The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias – The Year in Beer 2021 – 2022Ep11

This time around on The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias, we welcome back Brewers Association chief economist, Bart Watson! Bart and the association just put out their comprehensive annual report on craft beer and the larger beer industry as a whole for 2021 in the US. We talk about the report and what it all means. If you’re a beer lover or just into the economics of alcohol, you don’t want to miss this one!

Pictured above – Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson (upper right) and various shots from the organization’s events and activities.

The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias – The Year in Beer 2021 – 2022Ep11

We’re talking brews on this episode of The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias. Specifically, we’re discussing the year in beer in 2021. Bart Watson, chief economist of the Brewers Association, comes on to talk about their newly released annual report.

The Brewers Association is the primary trade organization in the US working on behalf of the country’s craft beer industry. Their annual report is an important offering that tracks not only the craft beer industry but the overall industry as well.

We discuss the year that was in 2021. In general, it was one that showed some good bounce back from a dismal, covid-affected 2020. However, a lot of nuance and insight are needed to truly understand the good and the bad. Bart gives us a lot on the “how” and “why” we see in the report’s numbers.

Additionally, we talk about how the Brewers Association measures and categorizes beer producers and how different business models performed in 2021 and contrasted with 2022. Beyond covid, we also touch on other issues and dynamics affecting the industry.

We close things out discussing two of the lists generated in their report – the top 50 craft beer producers and the top 50 overall beer producers in the US. We talk about some key ideas, including beer producers you may not know by name, and other interesting specifics about the lists. Lastly, Bart gives us some thoughts on what we are already seeing in 2022 and what to look for in the beer industry moving forward this year.

Cheers and Be Well, You All!

~ Bryan