Much like how the caterpillar undergoes one of nature’s most notable transformations as it emerges from a chrysalis to become a butterfly, the U.S. beer market also seems to be in a state of transformation thanks to a host of factors.
“The current U.S. beer market is in a state of flux,” says Chris Lombardo, team lead and senior analyst for New York-based IBISWorld. “Though the craft beer boom has normalized, relatively, breweries now contend with consumers that increasingly demand a diverse array of alcoholic beverages and not just the traditional culprits like wine or spirits — think spiked seltzers, spiked teas, [ready-to-drink] (RTD) mixed drinks, cider, etc. Beer is still the largest alcoholic beverage segment in the United States, but its years of complete domination seem to be dwindling.