3 of the top 10 Brewers Association-defined craft breweries posted volume growth in 2025, according to production data reported today in the May/June issue of the trade group’s New Brewer magazine. 

Brewbound Insiders are getting the scoop on the big gains by a dedicated NA craft brewer, as well as growth by the most active acquirer of craft breweries and a legacy Pacific Northwest brewer. Insiders are also reading about big losses by the oldest brewery in the U.S. and share changes among the top 10.

Insiders are getting all of the details, as well as these stories:

• The 8 trends we’re tracking heading into the summer selling season;
• How moderation is reshaping global bev-alc sales;
• Heineken’s CEO-less strategy (for now);
• A-B’s investment in VA;
• And Highland Brewing’s tribute to its founder.

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7 of the 10 largest Brewers Association-defined craft breweries recorded production volume declines in 2025, according to data shared by the trade group in the May/June Issue of The New Brewer magazine. 

The top 10 domestic craft brewers shed a total of 763,491 barrels between 2024 (more than 7.87 million barrels) and 2025 (nearly 7.12 million barrels), according to the BA, which sources its data from member surveys, along with supplemental government data. 

Despite craft’s trends, 3 of the top 10 were able to find production growth in 2025, including No. 4 Tilray, No. 6 Athletic (No. 5 among regionals) and No. 10 Deschutes.

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The summer selling season is upon us, signaling the start of the beer category’s most important stretch. 

Encouraging early trends this year have given way to a more cautious outlook. More recent trends “signal erosion from the stronger momentum seen in March and early April,” market research firm NIQ noted in a recent report. 

As the industry hopes the heat creates a summer thirst, here are 8 storylines we’re tracking.:

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No/low alcohol (3.9% ABV and below) has reached $6 billion in worldwide off-premise sales, but consumers are still reaching for water and soda over adult alternatives, according to NIQ.

That’s due to the 63% of consumers globally that are now moderating their alcohol consumption in some form, according to a CGA study conducted April and May 2025 among 33,201 respondents. Only 22% said they drink and see no reason to change.

No/low trends remain still a small but growing piece of the pie.

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BevNET Live NYC is just 3 weeks away, and registration is moving at record pace. Hundreds of beverage founders, investors, retailers, suppliers, and industry leaders are already signed on for June 10 & 11. Join them!

Expect 2 high-energy days built to spark ideas, connections and growth, including:

• Beverage School for startups; 

• 1:1 meetings with retailers and investors;

• Dedicated networking breaks & Happy Hour conversations;

• And new product discovery through the BevNET Live sample fridges — a firsthand look at the brands, flavors, formats and trends shaping what’s next in beverage.

Time is running out to register

As middle-tier M&A dominos fall this summer, NBWA president and CEO Craig Purser joins the latest Brewbound Podcast to discuss the tectonic shifts in the distribution landscape following RNDC’s fire sale.

Purser is part of a double shot of interviews this week, including Aeronaut director of programming Deepa Chungi, who shares how the MA craft brewery created a booming events business.

First, Purser offers insights into the impact of distributor consolidation; how the power structure has been reshaped with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits picking up Anheuser-Busch InBev’s distro rights in major markets; and what the intoxicating hemp beverage industry needs to do to get lawmakers onboard. 

Then, Chungi explores the keys for small breweries looking to add private and public events to their businesses, and why events such as “Pitch a Friend” and Dungeons & Dragons game nights have packed Aeronaut’s taproom. 

Plus, the Brewbound team discusses the demise of Schlitz, the closure of Minneapolis’ Bauhaus Brew Labs and a helluva partnership for Mike’s Dirty Lemonade.

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