Craft beer sales and production stats climb in 2016 but growth slows

Craft beer production rose in 2016, as did the value of the beer produced, but at a smaller rate than in 2015, figures released Tuesday by the Brewers Association trade group show.

Comparing 2015 versus the results from last year, the association stated the 6 percent increase in volume produced was off by more than half from the 13 percent increase reported for 2015.

And the retail value of the 24.6 million barrels produced was $23.5 billion — an increase of 10 percent versus 16 percent increase in 2015.

The association report covers represents breweries that produce 6 million barrels or less annually or have a less than 25 percent ownership stake by large brewers, a rule that excludes Petaluma-based Lagunitas Brewing Co.

The statistics arrive at a time where there have some been notable problems, including layoffs at Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido and Green Flash Brewing in San Diego, as well as San Francisco's Speakeasy Ales & Lagers being placed into receivership because it could not pay its bills.

'Small and independent brewers are operating in a new brewing reality still filled with opportunity, but within a much more competitive landscape,' said Bart Watson, chief economist of the Brewers Association, in a statement. 'The average brewer is getting smaller and growth is more diffuse within the craft category, with producers at the tail helping to drive growth for the overall segment.'

The number of operating breweries nationwide rose by 17 percent to a total of 5,301. In 2016, 826 breweries opened and 97 closed.