30-06-2025
Tough times for Mass. beer brewers amid nationwide downturn
Six of the ten largest craft breweries in Massachusetts saw sales crater in 2024, an exclusive Axios analysis finds.
Why it matters: The figures indicate the Bay State's well-established beer scene is not exempt from the tough times plaguing the nation's brewing industry.
State of play: The state's largest brewer by far, Boston Beer Co., the maker of Sam Adams products, saw sales dip 23% in 2024 compared to the prior year, our analysis of Brewers Association data shows.
Trillium Brewing, Berkshire Brewing Company, Greater Good Imperial Brewing Co., Lord Hobo Brewing and the Tasty Liquid Alliance (Aeronaut and Dorchester Brewing Co.) all saw declines.
Sales of Lord Hobo, the ninth-largest brewer in Mass., declined 44% according to the data.
Yes, but: Four breweries in the top 10 saw sales hop upward in part thanks to a focus on new-wave beer styles that appeal to the shifting customer base.
Those four: Barrel One Collective (Harpoon, Wachusett, Smuttynose and Long Trail), Hendler Family Brewing Company (Jack's Abbey, Night Shift and Wormtown), Tree House Brewery and Mighty Squirrel.
