YORK, Pa. — Breweries across the commonwealth are closing their doors, leaving many to wonder if the craft beer industry is on the decline.
Last year, at least a dozen brewers watched their dreams go down the drain.
According to Brewers of PA, one brewery closed every month in 2022. That number rose to one-and-a-half at the start of 2023.
Several factors could explain why breweries like Tattered Flag Brewery and Still Works shut their doors, but some in the craft beer industry say the COVID pandemic could be to blame rather than factors like poor sales.
“It was especially hard on some businesses that were in the process of expanding and getting bigger and putting more money into their business and it just came at a bad time for them,” said Mickey Knaper, owner of Gift Horse Brewing Company.
The cost of ingredients may also have risen due to inflation, which could have caused some breweries to raise their prices and inadvertently drive some clientele away.
York-based brewers like Gift Horse Brewing Company and Liquid Hero say their customers keep them open.
“During COVID, we were not closed one day because we had regulars come in here buying more beer than they needed just to keep us open,” said Mike Hockman, a part-time bartender at Liquid Hero.
“There’s no doubt that that loyal clientele has to be the base of your business and you need that, you are not going to survive without that,” Knaper said.
Hockman says the right atmosphere can keep customers coming back to the brewery.
“Even though it’s a brewery, it’s a neighborhood bar and that’s what keeps us open,” Hockman described.
And patrons like Deb Bushover agree.
“You feel like you’re going home to catch up with people you care about that you don’t see all the time.”
Despite competition with ready-to-drink canned cocktails on the market, some suggest demand for craft beer is on the rise.
“I don’t think craft beer is on any kind of a downturn,” Knaper said.
“If you look at how many breweries are open now compared to next year, I guarantee there’ll be more open next year,” Hockman added.
There are more than 500 craft breweries currently open across Pennsylvania according to VisitPA.com.