159. Bart Watson, President & CEO of the Brewers Association, on the Mature Craft Beer Market, Consumer Education, and Supporting Small Brewers Amid Tariff Pressures
Update: 2025-10-16
Description
Craft beer transformed American tastes—so how does the industry stay relevant in a crowded, flavor-filled beverage market? How can associations support their members during a time of economic uncertainty and competition from larger players?
In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Bart Watson, President and CEO of the Brewers Association. Bart discusses:
- How the Brewers Association represents over 5,000 small and independent craft brewers across the U.S.
- The evolving landscape of the craft beer industry as it enters a mature, stable phase
- The impact of competing beverage innovations like hard seltzers, canned cocktails, and THC beverages on market share and consumer attention.
- The recent spin-off of the American Homebrewers Association and how both organizations benefit from their independence.
- The importance of renewed consumer education to engage new generations and promote local craft breweries.
- Why the Brewers Association continues to invest in consumer-facing platforms like CraftBeer.com and large-scale events like the Great American Beer Festival.
- How the association is rethinking its convention (Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®) to focus more on business acumen, total beverage strategies, and meaningful networking.
- The significant challenges small brewers face with supply chain inflation, especially with aluminum and barley, and the association’s advocacy work on tariffs.
- Why gathering and analyzing data is a key member benefit, and how it helps level the playing field for smaller breweries.
- The role of local breweries in community life, especially during events like Oktoberfest, and how fresh hop beers are a seasonal must-try.
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