‘We’re losing craft beer drinkers.’ Westchester brewers discuss business challenges ahead of 2025
Three craft breweries have closed in the past year – Alternative Medicine Brewing in Mount Vernon, Sim Coe Beer Bar in Scarsdale and Miles the Prince in White Plains.
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News 12 spoke with the owners of Run and Hide Brewing Company in Port Chester and the Wolf and Warrior Brewing Company in White Plains who both say they've experienced a slower 2024 year.
"Business has been tough, you know? We're losing craft beer drinkers. We're losing a lot of them to R2D, or 'Ready to Drink' cocktails, seltzers...some people are just abstaining from alcohol. So, it's not the best time to be making craft beer and selling it," said Run and Hide Brewing Co. Owner Tim Shanley.
Three craft breweries have closed in the past year – Alternative Medicine Brewing in Mount Vernon, Sim Coe Beer Bar in Scarsdale and Miles the Prince in White Plains.
"I've also seen there's been a bit of a rise in people cutting back on alcohol consumption. The data that we're getting from the Brewers Association for the United States is showing that trend," said Mike Chiltern, owner of the Wolf & Warrior Brewing Company.
According to the Brewers Association, in 2023 craft brewers volume sales declined by 1%, raising small and independent brewers' share of the U.S. Beer Market by volume to 13.3%.
Both breweries say a key factor to success is building ties with the community.
