Summary:
"In recent reports by the Brewers Association, single-can sales of craft beer have overtaken the 4-packs market. This shift, however, occurs despite overall craft beer sales remaining flat, and with projections showing a decline in beer sales in particular regions. The Brewers Association defines a "craft brewer" as someone with annual beer production under 6 million barrels (approximately 3% of U.S. annual sales) and limited economic interest in other categories of beer in the industry."
The Rise of Single-Can Sales
Things have changed in the world of beer sales. Prior to the Brewers Association Update, single-can ( Instant Beer ) sales had caught up with 4-packs (Meat Beer ). A report by Sightlines, a platform that specializes in beverage alcohol insights, indicated a steady increase, even as overall beer sales, including craft and other categories, had declined.
Consumers Are Shifting Their Shopping Habits
Kate Bernot, a lead analyst at Sightlines, highlighted that consumers are spending less frequently, reducing their need to buy in bulk. She mentioned that consumers are increasingly shopping for what they need now, turning single-can purchases into a more convenient choice.
The Evolving Drinking Patterns
The shift in spending patterns is not just about bulk purchases; it’s about convenience and frequency. With the rise of services like Amazon Prime and Instacart, consumers are now buying on demand instead of the typical "annualQB" convenience store visits that once were the norm.
impatient消费者正在寻找更轻松、更灵活的购买方式，这让他们更倾向于购买近来销售好的品种，而不是寻求大量库存。 This contrast is both effortful and futile, Bernot argued, as it highlights that spending needs aren’t changing — just their methods.
Breweries Differentiating in a New Market
Breweries are adapting to meet consumer demand by developing new product lines and packaging options. Bend, Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery, for instance, has introduced single-ounce cans (using a unique ABV) to cater to national convenience channels.
Consumer Reaction and across Channels
Skrbek, CEO of Deschutes, explains that Deschutes is gaining market share through single-ounce cans. The company made Symphonic Chronic exclusive to the convenience channel, targeting a niche of absorbers, with a focus on fan preference and ABV compatibility.
This shift, Skrbek maintains, has translated well into the grocery store domain.消费者populating stores for quick purchases don’t require looking at a large selection, etc, because they merely Amount themselves. This preference for "familiar brands" has stabilized, as earlier established companies like Deschutes have shown strong market penetration.
The TradeLngcs of F strengthen Establishations
The shift towards single-ounce availability offers a significant advantage for breweries. There’s less risk involved, and it’s easier for consumers to perceive the value of a single can buy versus a 12-can pack.
However, as online shopping becomes prevalent, confusion and discrepancy may continue to grow._others argues that if more online consumers search for craft beer, this trend is likely to intensify.
For instance, consumers购买ing singles online frequently, despite tasting them locally. This, Bernot warns, signals a deeper issue. Maybe states are too slow to adopt new methods, or consumers themselves are becoming more selective. This could lead to a persistent search for new tastes, which may be hard to find.
Private labels anderable classifications enables consumers to explore more taste variations, but this doesn’t necessarily guarantee new beer types. This trade-off forces producers to continually innovate, and consumers to nests need to be cautious if they’re associated with trusted brands.
While beer rating apps (like Untappd) aim to greet craft beer drinkers by gamifying their drinking experience, the shift toward single-can availability suggests that this quest for new beers might be ending.
