Craft brewers upended by COVID-19 closure of tap rooms, bars

MARSHFIELD, Vt. (AP) — Sales of wine, spirits and other alcoholic beverages have risen during the coronavirus pandemic like foam in a freshly poured glass of beer.

Just not for some craft brewers.

Craft beer, particularly brews made by small, artisan producers, is often consumed in bars, restaurants, tap rooms and brew pubs — all of which have closed in many communities across the United States. While those brewers may sell some packaged brews or kegs, they rely on such venues to get by.

As a result, small, independent craft brewers have been forced to lay off workers and dump large quantities of their prized beverage. They've tried turning to curbside pickup and delivery of their product, but even those measures won’t make up for the losses.

“COVID-19 has been devastating for small and independent craft brewers around the country,” said Bob Pease, president and CEO of the Brewers Association, which he said has heard of dozens of breweries that have gone out of business. Roughly half the brewers questioned in an association survey said they would have to close if the quarantine lasts more than three months, according to Pease.

Some of the larger independent brewers whose beer is distributed to grocery and liquor stores have seen a bump in such “off-premise” sales during the pandemic, but they're still losing ground without their tap rooms in use and bars and restaurants open.

Off-premise sales of independent craft beer are up 17% in the nine-week period that ended on May 2 compared to the same time last year, but larger, commercial brands are growing at a faster pace, said Danelle Kosmal, vice president of beverage alcohol for the Nielsen Company. Total beer sales, which include flavored malt beverages, hard seltzer, and cider, rose 20%. That compares to wine sales, which are up 30% and spirits which...