How Stagflation Is Reshaping the Craft Beer Industry

Stagflation Conversations with Fexingo: High Inflation, Slow Growth, and 1970s Echoes · Jul 5, 2026 · 8m · transcript

In Episode 92 of Stagflation Conversations, Lucas and Luna examine how prolonged stagflation is squeezing craft breweries across the United States. With input costs rising and consumers trading down to cheaper options, the craft beer boom of the 2010s has given way to consolidation and closures. Lucas cites data from the Brewers Association showing that craft beer volume declined 2% in 2025, while brewery closings outnumbered openings for the third straight year. Luna points to the impact on local taprooms and the rise of alternative beverages like hard seltzer. The conversation also touches…