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Americans are really getting a taste for craft beer—enormous demand has driven a proliferation of small, regional breweries in the past few years, so much so that many are running into problems getting enough supplies.
The rapid growth of tiny beer brands has created an environment so competitive it's draining specialty ingredients, forcing craft beer companies to cut back on production even when there’s enough demand, the Wall Street Journal reports. During the first half of 2016, independent brewers’ volume increased only 8%, ending six years of double-digit growth, according to the Brewers Association.
“It’s like a bunch of wolves going after a carcass,” says brewhouse Wicked Weed co-owner Luke Dickinson. And there’s no indication that will stop soon—the demand for craft beer is as strong as ever. [WSJ]
