Northland brewers look ahead after pandemic losses
Local breweries relied on to-go and liquor store sales to get through pandemic shutdowns, but that wasn t enough to prevent more than $186 million in economic losses across the state. Written By: Laura Butterbrodt | ×
Bent Paddle employee Craig Faast checks to make sure there are no leaky cans in a 12-pack of Kanu Session Pale Ale in February 2020. (Steve Kuchera / News Tribune)
A new research report by the University of Minnesota Extension revealed that the state’s craft breweries lost more than $186 million in economic activity due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The study, done in partnership with the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild, compiled responses from 95 breweries across the state. In 2019, the industry generated more than $1 billion in economic activity and attracted about 3.6 million people to craft brewing events. During the pandemic, 1,050 of the 8,345 jobs supported by the craft brewing
Bent Paddle Brewing Co. taproom in Duluth. Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
Minnesota Craft Breweries’ Sales Dipped 18 Percent in 2020 A report from the University of Minnesota Extension quantifies the pandemic s impact on craft breweries in the state. Bent Paddle Brewing Co. taproom in Duluth. Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
It probably comes as no surprise that American alcohol consumption grew during the pandemic, but that hasn’t necessarily benefitted Minnesota’s brewers.
In 2020, the state’s craft breweries saw an 18 percent year-over-year decline in sales, according to a new report from the University of Minnesota Extension.
University economists say the sales decline doesn’t fully capture the depth of loss last year. Alongside a drop in revenue, many breweries had to make costly operational changes to adjust to the pandemic. They also faced a decline in on-site food sales.
Minnesota breweries drained by pandemic as on-site sales dried up 600 jobs lost, contribution to state economy slips. April 5, 2021 8:10pm Text size Copy shortlink:
DULUTH – On the first Monday that Hoops Brewing had been open in many months, owner Dave Hoops was paying bills and watching the Twins game while taking stock of the past year.
The Canal Park beer hall was one of the first to close and one of the last to reopen and saw taproom sales drop by more than half in 2020, he said. We depend on people coming in here, he said. In order to survive we increased retail, curbside and gave a lot of beer away.