Decline Of The "Homebrewing Lifestyle"

[brewcat]

I think you are dead on. Brick and mortar is getting slaughtered by online retail. Look at AB InBev purchasing NB. The majority of NBs receipts are online sales and AB wouldn't purchase them if projections weren't anything but good.

Online is only one aspect. The real problem is stores not carrying what people want, lack of inventory and bad service. Online has a hard time competing if a local store has their bases covered. Friendly & knowledgeable. Good selection. Price competitive. I wish I had a homebrew shop.

 

[stylus1274]

Online is only one aspect. The real problem is stores not carrying what people want, lack of inventory and bad service. Online has a hard time competing if a local store has their bases covered. Friendly & knowledgeable. Good selection. Price competitive. I wish I had a homebrew shop.

^^^ Exactly this. Online is only one part.

Believe it or not you can also compete with online sales. If you have a brick and mortar shop you better also sell online. You just need a well thought out plan and strong marketing. There is plenty of cash flow to go around.

Even though online sales are strong there are plenty of brewers who like to roll into a shop, shoot the stuff, mill their own grains and generally enjoy a LHBS visit.

 

[lslbrew]

^^^ Exactly this. Online is only one part.

Believe it or not you can also compete with online sales. If you have a brick and mortar shop you better also sell online. You just need a well thought out plan and strong marketing. There is plenty of cash flow to go around.

Even though online sales are strong there are plenty of brewers who like to roll into a shop, shoot the stuff, mill their own grains and generally enjoy a LHBS visit.

Back when Amazon just sold books, Jeff Bezos said that there was still a market for book stores. Sometimes you want the book that day, sometimes you want to browse or just sit in a book store. Personally I like to go to my LHBS, measure out my grains and talk brewing with a person. I also like being able to get what I want the day before brewing and not plan on shipping time, etc. As long as the prices are reasonable I will go to the LHBS before going online for my needs.

 

[ericbw]

I don't know. Maybe a beer store isn't the right place to sell brewing ingredients. Like a bakery selling flour.

 

[jmcquesten]

$20 a six pack for craft beer versus $30 for an 11 gallon batch... and I am not stuck with what is carried in my rural boondocks where Budweiser is considered high end beer...

Usually, the beers that are $20 a six pack are not the beers that can be made for $30/11 gallon. Not saying that you can't make an 11 gal. batch of beer for $30. A $20 6 pack around me is going to be something with either a ton of hops $$ or oak aged, or something. This usually makes it more expensive to brew, regardless of whether it's homebrew or craft.

 

[beernutz]

I don't know. Maybe a beer store isn't the right place to sell brewing ingredients. Like a bakery selling flour.

I have seen several successful growler shops (Hops and Growlers near me) and beer stores (several Hop City locations) which sell craft beer and also homebrewing supplies and equipment.

 

[boasist]

^^^ Exactly this. Online is only one part.

Believe it or not you can also compete with online sales. If you have a brick and mortar shop you better also sell online. You just need a well thought out plan and strong marketing. There is plenty of cash flow to go around.

Even though online sales are strong there are plenty of brewers who like to roll into a shop, shoot the stuff, mill their own grains and generally enjoy a LHBS visit.

I'm 30 minutes away from AIH, yet when I order online for store pickup from them, it takes 48-72 hours for the order to be ready. I can order from morebeer.com and it's here the next day. The last online order I placed from them I ordered on a Thursday, and I didn't get it until the following Wednesday. I want to support them, but I just can't get how they lag in their order processing department. Perhaps amazon has spoiled me.

That said, I just went over to Kuhnhenn brewery today, grabbed a growler and some supplies at the HBS across the parking lot. Both owned by them. I also received a 60# package from morebeer with ingredients for the weekend brew. Last time I was a Kuhnhenn they had nothing I wanted, yet they gave me a token for a free drink at the taphouse, a good plus for being a brewhouse that has a HBS.

 

[processhead]

When I started brewing 25 years ago, craft beer choices were non-existent and imports were hard to find and expensive.

I was looking for an alternative to domestic swill and that motivated me to brew.

Now those original motivations no longer exist. I am now motivated to learn how to improve my technique and duplicate the styles I love.

Building and modifying brewing gear is also a strong motivator for me to keep on brewing.

 

[imasickboy]

Now I brew beer for many of the same reason I might cook or bake something: I want to posses the knowledge and skill to make something good, with my own two hands, and to be able to share it with other people--as well as enjoy it myself.

^^^100% this.

I would suggest that any drop in homebrewing could likely be a result of the economy doing well. When the economy is poor, and people perceive a lack of income, they tend to build/make/grow/create more things for themselves. The economy is certainly in pretty good shape right now, so it's possible that fewer people are joining the hobby for those reasons.

 

[FelixGER]

Hoho!

First post. I´m an aspiring homebrewer from Germany. Just startet christmas last year.

Over here "craft beer" doesn´t canibalize homebrewing. Beer prices are just very different. For a halfway decent Pilsener you pay about 1 € 0,5l/pint and for craft beer it´s an average of 4 € for 0,5l/pint ! (grocery store prices)

When I brew I can make simple hopped beer at 12° Plato for about 0,80 €/pint. Hoppy beers like an IPA cost me 1,30 €/pint. Just raw materials, no work calculated. But it´s a hobby so that´s ok.

So when I buy an IPA it costs me 3 times more than a homebrewed version and if it´s imported from the US in a bottle it´s 100% skunked.

 

[JohnSand]

I will no more stop brewing to buy local craft beer than I would stop cooking to buy from restaurants. It costs too much, and I enjoy producing something enjoyable.
I shopped at the Hoptron HBS, it was small and open only a few hours a day. Twelve miles west there is a much more comprehensive HBS.
I think the article failed to address a number of reasons that HBS sales may be down:
1. Hobbies are cyclical. People brew for a few years, then move on to something else.
2. Much of the equipment lasts forever. While we have probably all bought a bigger kettle or a kegorator, at some point equipment purchases taper off.
3. Simpler methods. BIAB requires far less equipment than three vessel. Small batch kits can be done on the stove.
4. The above mentioned online shopping.

 

[triethylborane]

Online is only one aspect. The real problem is stores not carrying what people want, lack of inventory and bad service. Online has a hard time competing if a local store has their bases covered. Friendly & knowledgeable. Good selection. Price competitive. I wish I had a homebrew shop.

Yes, quite right. I should have been more specific that my comment on brick and mortar regarded retail in general, not just homebrew shops.

For years the closest homebrew shop to me in CO was owned by a guy who was never at the shop and had a crew of employees/volunteers that would basically be at the shop and brew beer, then drink. There was one guy who knew how to brew and was helpful, but the rest were there to brew and drink. And run the register when you were able to wrangle them away from whatever they were doing. Inventory was pretty good, sometimes they would blow it on ordering yeast, and the grain selection was good, but it was clean nor orderly. It wasn't gross, but it wasn't cared for.

Anyway, come to find out the business was clearing 500k a year yet could not turn a profit. Credit lines were being extended, payroll not met, secured creditors throwing down liens, etc. Well, that owner went out of business, sold. 500k and couldn't turn a profit, just from bad biz prac. New owner says he's within 5% of projected profits each month, store is clean, staff is attentive, great inventory, competitive prices from grain to yeast to keg stuff.

Its a hell of a lot easier and for me to go there than to shop online, but in the end it comes down to competitiveness. Maybe at some point that will change, but right now I am grateful to have a good local brick and mortar.

 

[brewcat]

^^^ Exactly this. Online is only one part.

Believe it or not you can also compete with online sales. If you have a brick and mortar shop you better also sell online. You just need a well thought out plan and strong marketing. There is plenty of cash flow to go around.

Even though online sales are strong there are plenty of brewers who like to roll into a shop, shoot the stuff, mill their own grains and generally enjoy a LHBS visit.

Even then I would caution any brick and mortar wanting to sell online if it takes away from their current location. An online shop should be considered & utilized as a 2nd store. That is more inventory and more time to manage. Anymore, I don't believe you can just put up an online store and expect sales. First make sure the store info is found online and go from there. People are pretty good at searching for shops in areas.

 

[Dadof5]

I certainly can see how the exploded craft beer industry would make a would be brewer shy away from the challenges of crafting their own treasures. The availability of delicious brew is amazing. Thanks to many adventurous homebrewers no doubt! I think lately though, as pointed out earlier, there is so much variety to choose from that what's the point in making it? i believe its a lack of time issue to an extent, but also a generational issue. I'm 40 something and having a hell of a time making good beer... but having one good hell of a time trying! Cheers!

 

[seatazzz]

I personally think it comes down to cycles..bear with me here. You're going to get people who find the Mr Beer kits, suddenly think "hey I can do this!", brew a couple of batches, then get a wild hair and go crazy on equipment. Suddenly this hobby requires a LOT more than just watching the stove, and they're done. But then you also get the people who try the mr beer, make something good, take the time to do the research on how to do it better, and shazam they're here on HBT every other day making great beer and helping the noobs. it's cyclical, I tell you.

 

[Dadof5]

I personally think it comes down to cycles..bear with me here. You're going to get people who find the Mr Beer kits, suddenly think "hey I can do this!", brew a couple of batches, then get a wild hair and go crazy on equipment. Suddenly this hobby requires a LOT more than just watching the stove, and they're done. But then you also get the people who try the mr beer, make something good, take the time to do the research on how to do it better, and shazam they're here on HBT every other day making great beer and helping the noobs. it's cyclical, I tell you.

Tru dat!

 

[Mirilis]

I like the process control, and engineering my own equipment. I dont make many fancy beers (ex: habanero honey infused coffee porter), but I do try to make classic styles and make them well. For me the joy beyond the engineering aspect of it is the fellowship with people who share the same passion for making good beer. Ive been doing it now for about 10 years so i see no reason to stop now.. i have had times where it was hard to find time (working on my MBA with 3 small kids) but I managed.

 

[david_42]

I admit I haven't brewed much in the last year, but I have been brewing beers I can't get locally. Hard to believe, since I live in Beervana. However, try to find a Mild, a Brown, a real (not robust) porter or a low-gravity stout at your local. It's tough to impossible. Ditto, cream ales, unhoppy reds, ambers, etc. etc.

Looks like I will be making a couple batches of wine soon, since the Golden Muscat is doing very well and I have about 50 lbs of table grapes in the freezer leftover from last year.

 

[ericbw]

Hoho!

First post. I´m an aspiring homebrewer from Germany. Just startet christmas last year.

Over here "craft beer" doesn´t canibalize homebrewing. Beer prices are just very different. For a halfway decent Pilsener you pay about 1 € 0,5l/pint and for craft beer it´s an average of 4 € for 0,5l/pint ! (grocery store prices)

When I brew I can make simple hopped beer at 12° Plato for about 0,80 €/pint. Hoppy beers like an IPA cost me 1,30 €/pint. Just raw materials, no work calculated. But it´s a hobby so that´s ok.

So when I buy an IPA it costs me 3 times more than a homebrewed version and if it´s imported from the US in a bottle it´s 100% skunked.

What kind of beers are you making? American IPAs?

 

[FelixGER]

I did one once but don´t really like the style. Too heavy. I´m more into regular Pale Ales (~5% ABV, 35-40 IBUs) often combining american hops with the new german ones like callista or huell melon.

 

[65C]

The article makes a strong suggestion towards many brewers stopping this hobby because they can now buy 'craft beers' they couldn't buy before.

I've been pretty much drinking nothing but my brews now for 3 months

now I like the odd pub pint - if it's a really good pub (Smithfield Tavern Manchester) - but there are still few pubs that have *really* good beer on - more often than not it's mediocre even if it's a decent brewery - and too often it's something a bit whacky like coffee porter

I got some craft brew cans for the train the other day - they were good and interesting - but it was still great to get back home and crack open one of mine - I can't quite put my finger on the difference - maybe I'm only doing malt/flavour I know I really like, maybe they are more yeasty and fresh, maybe they are more bitter than a brewery would do - either way I prefer them and it's worth the effort

 

[Syke]

I'm seeing an abundance of homebrew hardware. Grainfather, SSBrew, Robobrew, PicoBrew, etc. The homebrew community is obviously doing extremely well.

 

[chickypad]

Seems more plausible that the popularity of craft brew caused an unnatural surge in the number of people trying homebrewing (as they point out from 2009-2012) and now there is a correcting decline as those folks who don't really love it or didn't really take to it drop out. I think they are completely misinterpreting the data to say that all these established homebrewers are dropping the hobby now because they can just buy the beer commercially. Seems like the only ones they've documented actually quitting are those who have gone pro.

 

[65C]

Also - I don't think many people can afford to drink 4 pints of commercial craft beer a night at £4 or £5 a pint - when you can brew for a quarter of the price

 

[MapleGroveAleworks]

Yeah I have no interest in retail beer really. I'll buy a pint if I'm out somewhere but I rely mostly on my own beer...and we have great local breweries. I just have no interest because I make my own beer.

 

[ericbw]

We cook steaks at home, but I'll still get a steak at a restaurant sometimes. To be fair, it is usually at a dinner when someone else is buying.

 

[Spartan1979]

When I started brewing in the early nineties it was because I couldn't get much of anything. Now I pretty much brew German style because it's still hard to get good fresh examples of these. If I want an IPA I just go buy it.

 

[Arbe0]

jez ..In tasting some of the beer I can get in stores, it is had to figure out what tastes good and what doesn't. I have bought some that were just really bad and some that were ok.
The solution to this is to brew your own beer that you like and the way you like. That way your not standing there looking at a bottle that has very little information for brewers and wandering if it is any good.

 

[b-boy]

I don't think the emergence of craft beers had that much to do with homebrew's recent decline. I think that most people who homebrew are still buying commercial beers pretty regularly.

I think the homebrew thing was a bit of a fad. I know quite a few people who jumped in, made a few batches, then just stopped.The hardcore people will keep going.

A brick-and-mortar LHBS in my area recently shut down after only 2 years in business. Several of my go to online locations are gone as well. The owner of another LHBS said his business is down over 20% from the prior year. Most of them showed up about half way through the boom and quickly folded. The older businesses seem to be hanging in there. They know how to handle the ups and downs of the market.

I think the same thing will happen in the brewery world in the near future. There are way too many local breweries out there right now.

Hopefully, as a result of the contraction, hops prices will go down some day. That'd be nice.

 

[MapleGroveAleworks]

There's something about pulling a pint or popping a bottle of your own beer that local breweries cannot replicate for you. That's why I brew.