Domestic Beer Sales Fall Flat While Craft Brews Rise

CHICAGOBad news on the domestic beer front. Some 22% of Americans say they are drinking less domestic beer because theyre drinking wine instead and 18% are focusing their alcohol consumption on liquor in lieu of domestic beer, according to new research from Mintel.

However, its not all bad news in the suds world. Despite flat volume sales on the traditional domestic front, craft beer continues to make inroads, especially among the important 25- to 34-year-old age group where 51% feel that smaller producers make better quality products than their larger brethren.

Competition is not the only issue. Twenty percent of Americans say they are cutting back on domestic beer consumption because it has too many calories and 15% believe it to be unhealthy. This has helped buoy the sales of wine, traditionally seen as a healthier option, which saw sales increase 2.6% in 2013 to an estimated $42 billion, compared to a stagnant 0.3% increase for beer. Overall, 53% of U.S. consumers say they have had liquor in the last six months and 52% have enjoyed wine, while 52% have had any domestic beer and 45% any imported beer, including regular and lower-calorie products.

According to Mintel, in addition to calorie concerns, much of the switch can be traced back to consumers lust for variety and different flavors, with craft beer and hard cider, along with wine and spirits all showing significant upticks in consumption over the past six months, particularly among younger consumers.

Almost 25% of 22- to 24-year-olds report drinking more spirits or wine compared to the previous six months, with craft beer accounting for the one beer segment that has benefitted from increased interest across 22- to 44-year-olds. Nearly 55% of all beer drinkers say that they like to try new alcoholic drinks like craft beer or hard cider, and 18% of those aged 22 to 24 years report drinking more hard cider in the past six months, the largest increase amongst any alcohol type across all measured age groups.

Weve seen for years that Americans of legal drinking age are no longer only beer, wine, or liquor drinkers, instead theyre trying a variety of alcoholic beverages. Their drinksor drinksof choice during the Super Bowl will likely be no exception, with consumers curious to try new craft beers, hard ciders, sparkling wine, and flavored liquors," said Jennifer Zegler, global food and drink analyst at Mintel. However, this thirst for variety has led to flat volume sales for brewers, even though people are buying more of much-smaller segments like craft beer and hard cider. Brewers of all sizes must cater to this curiosity with new styles, taste profiles, and limited-edition options."

According to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), beer represented 44% of new alcoholic product launches in 2013, up from only 15% in 2009. From 2012 to 2013 alone, the number of new beer launches increased by an impressive 113%.

The top claim for new beer products remains limited-edition beers, with an 850% increase in the United States from 2010-2013. Additionally, much growth has occurred for products with environmentally-friendly packaging (233%), as well as premium beers (37%). More than half (52%) of those who drink beer, hard cider, and/or malt liquor say they like to choose different alcoholic drinks depending on the season.

While craft brewers have led the trend of seasonal releases, consumers admit that its more than their beer that they change depending on the season. This means adults of legal drinking age are always reconsidering their alcoholic beverage choices, leaving manufacturers constantly competing for consumption," Zegler said.

Data also found that alcoholic beverage consumption declines with age suggesting that manufacturers could be benefitted by courting the drinkers aged 22 to 34 years who might be making more educated choices now, which could develop into long-term habits.