OT, Rogue Ales RIP

[karstenkibbe]

Absolutely loving the hot takes here from people who think they’re craft beer experts. Sorry, but there is no craft beer demise in the U.S. The reality is that craft beer is a maturing market, and all maturing sectors face headwinds and the need to continue to innovate.

Here’s the reality: in 2023, 9,838 breweries operated in the U.S. In 2024, 9,922 breweries operated in the U.S. Craft beer’s retail dollar value actually rose 3% from 2023 to 2024. 2025 numbers won’t be release by the Brewers Assoc til spring 2026, but they’ll be fine.

Most brewery closures are not related to macro trends. They are issues specific to the brewery… not enough working capital, they produce underwhelming beers, can’t get into distro, etc. Sure, there are issues affecting all breweries - tariffs on equipment, hops/grains, the crazy increase in the cost of aluminum, shifting consumer preferences.

Craft beer is an intensely competitive space. Those who innovate, thrive. Those who provide a superior onsite consumer experience also thrive. Rogue was dying on the vine. Or, uh, bine, in the case of beer. Zero innovation. Compare that to Sierra Nevada, the number three craft brewery in the U.S., which has tweaked its recipes over the years and introduced new beers and packaging for today’s beer consumer. Sierra Nevada is doing well.

Is craft beer exploding like it did a decade ago? Of course not. The space is crowded, and in some areas, oversaturated. You can cry a tear for craft beer, if you’d like. But it’s not going away.

 

[VanDunk]

Absolutely loving the hot takes here from people who think they’re craft beer experts. Sorry, but there is no craft beer demise in the U.S. The reality is that craft beer is a maturing market, and all maturing sectors face headwinds and the need to continue to innovate.

Here’s the reality: in 2023, 9,838 breweries operated in the U.S. In 2024, 9,922 breweries operated in the U.S. Craft beer’s retail dollar value actually rose 3% from 2023 to 2024. 2025 numbers won’t be release by the Brewers Assoc til spring 2026, but they’ll be fine.

Most brewery closures are not related to macro trends. They are issues specific to the brewery… not enough working capital, they produce underwhelming beers, can’t get into distro, etc. Sure, there are issues affecting all breweries - tariffs on equipment, hops/grains, the crazy increase in the cost of aluminum, shifting consumer preferences.

Craft beer is an intensely competitive space. Those who innovate, thrive. Those who provide a superior onsite consumer experience also thrive. Rogue was dying on the vine. Or, uh, bine, in the case of beer. Zero innovation. Compare that to Sierra Nevada, the number three craft brewery in the U.S., which has tweaked its recipes over the years and introduced new beers and packaging for today’s beer consumer. Sierra Nevada is doing well.

Is craft beer exploding like it did a decade ago? Of course not. The space is crowded, and in some areas, oversaturated. You can cry a tear for craft beer, if you’d like. But it’s not going away.

Ive been a « craft brewer » for 35 years in multiple countries (and New England) and many brewerIes (some of which I’ve owned, others that I’ve held various production roles, usually Head Brewer). Most brewers I speak to are hanging on by a thread, and yes this includes the best, biggest AND smallest, and most innovative and sh@t hot breweries in America, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Scandinavia and the UK, 2025 has been a terrible year for everyone I’ve spoken to. My brewery is still here because we have no debt and I don’t require a lot of salary. But just last week taxes went up on beer here and our latest water bill was charging us 8 times what it was last year. Suppliers and our retail partners are also closing. Thank god I have all the free beer I want!

 

[auror]

Ive been a « craft brewer » for 35 years in multiple countries (and New England) and many brewerIes (some of which I’ve owned, others that I’ve held various production roles, usually Head Brewer). Most brewers I speak to are hanging on by a thread, and yes this includes the best, biggest AND smallest, and most innovative and sh@t hot breweries in America, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Scandinavia and the UK, 2025 has been a terrible year for everyone I’ve spoken to. My brewery is still here because we have no debt and I don’t require a lot of salary. But just last week taxes went up on beer here and our latest water bill was charging us 8 times what it was last year. Suppliers and our retail partners are also closing. Thank god I have all the free beer I want!

What's your brewery? (You don't have to out yourself if you don't want to).

 

[JohnFSilver]

A company files Chapter 7 bankruptcy when it has no other options. It is a quick bankruptcy chapter designed for people and companies without an income source to pay debt. The primary function of Chapter 7 is to liquidate assets and pay creditors, which is why filing under Chapter 7 will shut down the company.

• The company owes over $16.7 million in liabilities with only $4.9 million in assets.
• All assets will be liquidated.
• Significant specific liabilities include $594,000 in unpaid rent to the Port of Newport,  $918,000 in overdue property taxes to Lincoln County, plus other debts including unsecured loans reportedly from one of the original founders.
• A major additional liability is a contested “dram‑shop negligence” claim tied to a 2022 fatal DUI crash. This claim alone is listed at up to $10 million.

So they got sued into bankruptcy. Wonder if the recipes will get bought at auction.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Ive been a « craft brewer » for 35 years in multiple countries (and New England) and many brewerIes (some of which I’ve owned, others that I’ve held various production roles, usually Head Brewer). Most brewers I speak to are hanging on by a thread, and yes this includes the best, biggest AND smallest, and most innovative and sh@t hot breweries in America, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Scandinavia and the UK, 2025 has been a terrible year for everyone I’ve spoken to. My brewery is still here because we have no debt and I don’t require a lot of salary. But just last week taxes went up on beer here and our latest water bill was charging us 8 times what it was last year. Suppliers and our retail partners are also closing. Thank god I have all the free beer I want!

How did water go up 8x? That’s insane.

 

[temery]

How did water go up 8x? That’s insane.

I get a water bill every six months. It has jumped several times 2x to 3x. I just got my bill - $700. The last bill was $67. Seasonal changes aside, water is never going to get cheaper.

My next house will NOT have a lawn.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Ive been a « craft brewer » for 35 years in multiple countries (and New England) and many brewerIes (some of which I’ve owned, others that I’ve held various production roles, usually Head Brewer). Most brewers I speak to are hanging on by a thread, and yes this includes the best, biggest AND smallest, and most innovative and sh@t hot breweries in America, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Scandinavia and the UK, 2025 has been a terrible year for everyone I’ve spoken to. My brewery is still here because we have no debt and I don’t require a lot of salary. But just last week taxes went up on beer here and our latest water bill was charging us 8 times what it was last year. Suppliers and our retail partners are also closing. Thank god I have all the free beer I want!

I am involved with the UConn Brewing Innovation program. One of our overarching goals is to help CT breweries to survive/thrive with help from science, business, engineering, tech angles.

State of the brewing industry is more like what @VanDunk describes, though @karstenkibbe is generally correct that at this point craft brewing is not in dire straits. But the problem is all early signs point towards that’s the direction it can go in the near future.

 

[Johnny Mac]

Rogue Ales and Spirits, a well known brewery here in Oregon that brews Boneyard Beer has shut its doors. It was one of my favorite breweries during my visits to Newport. It's a sad day here in Oregon

RPM was my first IPA when I lived in Vancouver. Notorious, when available, was always a nightcap.

I moved away from the 'Couv several years ago but I thought it was Deschutes that bought Boneyard a few years ago, not Rogue. Was I mistaken?

 

[MTHusky]

RPM was my first IPA when I lived in Vancouver. Notorious, when available, was always a nightcap.

I moved away from the 'Couv several years ago but I thought it was Deschutes that bought Boneyard a few years ago, not Rogue. Was I mistaken?

I apologize; Boneyard Beer is now owned by Deschutes, which bought it in 2021.

 

[Bongo Fury]

I get a water bill every six months. It has jumped several times 2x to 3x. I just got my bill - $700. The last bill was $67. Seasonal changes aside, water is never going to get cheaper.

My next house will NOT have a lawn.

Treehouse in Monson had well water. Used to go there about twice a week and buy whatever they had. Lot of water used for cleaning as well and if sewer, might have to treat and have sewer bill.