Ray Berry had planned to open his new taproom and brewing facility in downtown Springfield in May. His White Lion Brewing Co. hes president of the operation had been contract-brewing its beers in Ipswich and Williamsburg since its launch in 2014, and the new Tower Square location was under full-bore construction last month.
But even the best-laid plans are on hold in the time of coronavirus.
When I caught up with Berry a few days ago, he shared that uncertainty. One day at a time, were the first words he offered. Thats all we can do.
Construction continues, but not at the aggressive pace of a few weeks ago. Brewer Mike Yates was recently on site doing some plumbing work, Berry says, but youre not seeing eight or nine employees in there anymore; its one or two.
Because of the economic downturn and the evaporation of on-premise beer sales which makes up 38 percent of White Lions portfolio the company has laid off two of its seven full-time employees, and moved the remaining five employees to part-time.
The original plan for a May taproom opening is probably out the window, Berry says. Realistically, theres no rush on my end. No one wants to have a brand new facility open when there are restrictions in place about coming in to enjoy it.
Across the craft beer market, this new reality is sinking in. According to a mid-March survey conducted by the not-for-profit Brewers Association to which nearly 1,000 American breweries responded 99 percent of the countrys craft breweries have been substantially impacted by the spread of the coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19.
The numbers arent pretty, writes Bart Watson, the associations staff economist. Because so many breweries sell a high percentage of their beer through their taproom or brewpub, and draught sales make up roughly a third of craft production, the rapid shuttering or restriction of breweries, bars and restaurants has drastically cut short-term cash flow as well as production in the medium-term.
Watson also points out that the cancellation of live events at breweries creates an additional pain point for these businesses. Although concerts, private parties, craft and trivia nights, and other space rentals have commonly helped to smooth over periods of slow beer sales, the closing of that revenue stream has compounded the problem.
The result: 95 percent of respondents project their year-over-year beer sales to decrease in April. Roughly 60 percent have slowed their brewing schedule, and 28 percent have hit the stop button completely on production. About 61 percent of respondents anticipate layoffs, and another 28 percent are unsure of the staffing decisions they will have to make.
This is not, of course, just an American problem. German independent brewers say theyre losing up to 90 percent of sales across Berlin. In late March, Australian brewers warned that extensive shutdowns would deplete the countrys supply of beer within a few weeks. And Irelands craft breweries, which rely heavily on a thriving pub scene, are similarly struggling with a catastrophic drop in demand as borders and bars have closed.
Nor is this just a small business crisis. Anheuser-Busch InBev, the worlds largest brewer, is forecasting its worst quarter in a decade due to the coronavirus (and is now shifting a chunk of its efforts to the production and charitable distribution of bottles of hand sanitizer). Many distilleries small and large, including Bacardi, are now focusing on making ethanol and alcohol-based disinfectants.
Even craft breweries of a certain size can add systemic support. Samuel Adams launched its Restaurant Strong Fund on March 18, in partnership with the Greg Hill Foundation, to support restaurant workers. In its first week, the fund had raised nearly $500,000 in individual donations, all of which has now been distributed. Sam Adams will look to expand the funds reach over the coming weeks to support restaurant workers in 19 additional states.
Closer to home, Valley brewers and brewery owners have needed to quickly find ways to adapt their plans to a sea change in the economy and strict state measures that discourage in-person sales and gathering in groups not to mention bottlenecks in the supply chain (the 32-ounce aluminum cans called crowlers, for example, are largely on back order).
The local beer CSA Stoneman Brewery, which owner Justin Korby has been hoping to move off his Colrain property and into a larger space at the Warfield House Inn in Charlemont this spring, launched anonline fundraising campaign on March 11. Hours later, stocks plunged, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended that day in a bear market.
Korby pivoted quickly. Over the next two months, Stoneman will focus on fundraising for a side project that Korby developed and designed this winter: a portable trailer that can be towed and set up quickly as a pop-up bar, for flexible use at beer gardens and festivals. Stoneman also continues to contract-brew locally, which means Korbys beers are still available at grocery and package stores.
As long as Im open to the public and selling beer somewhere, Ill be able to keep my business alive, Korby told the Greenfield Recorder in late March. He pointed to the motto printed on the back of his cans of Warfield Dream IPA: Victory is surviving long enough to tell ones tale.
Many local breweries have converted their on-premise sales into a system of pre-order and curbside pickup. When a family member of mine was craving some In Absentia, an IPA produced by Brick and Feather Brewery in Turners Falls, he was pleased to discover that the company had quickly made this transition.
He reserved several four-packs of canned beer, paid online, then picked up his order that afternoon, making minimal contact with the staffer seated behind a table in the brewerys entryway. Craft beer fans who want to support small businesses (and, really, who doesnt?) can find similar updates on local breweries social media accounts, which seem to be more active than ever.
Craft beer also survives thanks to its symbiosis with bars and restaurants, virtually all of which are hurting. Gov. CharlieBaker introduced a bill in late March that would allow for restaurants with current liquor licenses to sell closed containers of beer and wine alongside meals ordered for takeout and delivery a measure that several states, including Connecticut and New Hampshire, have already adopted. The Massachusetts House and Senate passed the bill last Monday.
But for many bars and restaurants, that wont be enough to ward off the possibility of permanent closure. Although $2 trillion of federal stimulus money will help small and independent breweries with loans and forgiveness programs, the hard fact remains that roughly 55 percent of American craft beer is sold either on draft or at the brewery itself. For now, that majority slice of profits is gone.
The Peoples Pint in Greenfield has been closed since mid-March. Although the brewery continues to produce canned beer, the restaurants indefinite hiatus and the resulting layoffs in the bar and front-of-house staff have left a deep mark, says brewery manager Chris Sellers.
Theres no way to gloss over the difficulty that were feeling, he says, adding that the Pints on-premise sales have always contributed the bulk of its profits. Its really hard to say to our family of employees: We dont know where this is going to go.
The brewery is currently operating on a skeleton crew and setting strategies week by week.
Fortunately, package stores remain open, Sellers says, and its exciting to see that people are still buying our beers wholesale. Its a small but significant percentage of our revenue, so we dont have to put a full stop to everything.
The Pint is seeing an outpouring of encouragement online, Sellers says, which helps his crew move forward. Craft breweries have never worked on a one-size-fits-all model, he says. Even before this happened, Ive seen so many different versions of successful business plans for breweries. But this will definitely shift a growing industry. Business plans and outlooks have to evolve.
At Amherst Brewing, the majority of sales have typically come from draft pours at the brewery and its several Hangar Pub and Grill locations around the Valley, says head brewer Caleb Hiliadis.
Now, were adjusting to a package model, he says. Pretty much everything is going into cans, and we have as much of it going to package stores as possible. Thats been a big shift for us. I feel for every restaurant right now.
Brewing, by nature, requires weeks of planning. We want our beer to be fresh all the time, Hiliadis says. But is our distributor going to take it next week? You cant be sure. And a lot of package stores are just trying to run through their inventory, which means they arent buying a lot in. Everything is fragile.
As a result, Hiliadis is doing his best to play it a bit safe.
We have a new experimental hoppy beer out, he says, but were not introducing a lot of new beers at the moment. Were just trying to make a good product that people can enjoy in trying times. And when we reopen, Id prefer to start with a little less beer than normal, rather than make too much and just be sitting on it.
Its tough to have to switch lanes all of a sudden, he adds. But in craft beer, everyone always tries to stay nimble. Its not like you can predict everything. But our industry changes all the time. So, weve always had to think: what if? Thats the reality for everyone now.
This is why Sellers at the Peoples Pint is encouraging people to locate the brewery nearest to home, and go buy their beer.
A lot of breweries really rely on their taproom business, and I worry that if were not supportive now, some will struggle to survive after this, he says. We want this community to come out of this strong. And maybe people can step outside the box a little bit and try something new from a brewery that they havent had before.
Were a strong micro-economy in the state, and were able to be fairly flexible, he adds. Thats what keeps me confident about the Massachusetts beer industry. In all my travels, talking to brewers, Ive seen that its such a resilient, creative, awesome group of people. If anybody can shift gears quickly and come up with a cool solution to a complex problem, its the beer business.
The Beerhunter appears monthly. Contact Hunter Styles at hstyles@valleyadvocate.com.
Follow this link:
Trouble brewing: Local breweries adapt to a new, locked-down world - The Recorder
- St. Jude expansion in Memphis to close 2 streets: Here's where - Commercial Appeal - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- SEE: What are they planning to build at The Pavilion at Port Orange? - Daytona Beach News-Journal - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Andy's Coffee Break to bring its homestyle favorites to Kennewick - tricitiesbusinessnews.com - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- PHOTOS: Construction continues on the Delamar Mystic Hotel - The Westerly Sun - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Ancaster restaurants 'devastated' by huge drop in sales amid construction on Garner Road - CBC.ca - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- TGI Fridays demolished to make way for new Raising Cane's in Canton Township - Hometown Life - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Roscoes Chicken and Waffles in San Diego could be opening soon - CBS News 8 - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- 'We are down over 11,000 customers': Savannah restaurant excited for end of Dean Forest construction - WJCL News Savannah - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- 'We are down over 11,000 customers': Savannah eatery feels the pain of I-16, Dean Forest road work - WJCL News Savannah - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- Madison, Ridgeland restaurants being built - Clarion Ledger - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Restaurants set the table for change | Special Sections ... - Conway Daily Sun - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- BoardWalk Inn Resort Reimagining: Spring 2023 Construction Update - Disney Tourist Blog - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- The Oakville Grill & Cellar Is Open in Fulton Market - Eater Chicago - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- This Oakwood Mexican restaurant is closing. Here's what's in line to take its place - Yahoo News - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Mighty Squirrel Is Opening a Massive Brewery in Fenway - Eater Boston - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- 17 major development projects set to transform Danbury for years - Danbury News Times - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Royal Hawaiian Orange County to Reopen for Tiki Fans With New ... - Eater LA - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Highway 38 bridge project: One year or two? WisDOT weighing ... - Racine County Eye - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Local caterer opens sister restaurant serving up seafood and ... - 225 Baton Rouge - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Coldwater summer road construction starts Monday - Coldwater Daily Reporter - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Changes At Lake Bryan Includes No Fee To Go To The Restaurant ... - WTAW - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- First state law banning gas in new buildings likely to pass in New York - Smart Cities Dive - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Chef Lauris Aleksejevs to open the new Dia 36.line restaurant at the ... - Baltic Times - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Junto hotel hopes to be the heart of Franklinton's $250 million ... - The Columbus Dispatch - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- A New Pizza Hut is Under Construction in Monument - What Now Denver - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Owners of Milagro in Stonington open a new restaurant in East Lyme - theday.com - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- Loudoun's first Dash In convenience store starts to take shape - The Burn - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- Frustration grows over I-30/SH 360 construction in Arlington - CBS News - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- 4 parking garages under construction in Carmel will add 1300 new spaces in the city - IndyStar - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- Who's building where in Acadiana? Here are the building permits issued May 4-9 - The Advocate - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- New Checkers drive-through restaurant being dropped off by crane in Manassas - WRIC ABC 8News - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- Parachute, One of Chicago's Most Acclaimed Restaurants, to Reopen This Month After Two Years - Eater Chicago - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- Meet The 31-Year-Old Behind Buckhead's 1st Black-Owned Seafood Boil Restaurant - Travel Noire - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- Going to Plantation Walk, the hot new food-and-shopping paradise? Be prepared for surcharges - South Florida Sun Sentinel - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- King Taps still waiting to be crowned as construction continues in Kelowna Kelowna Capital News - Kelowna Capital News - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- Construction forces Long Beach food trucks to find somewhere else to park - News 12 Bronx - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- This Orange County Filipino Restaurant Fought Flames to Save the Family Empire - Eater LA - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- Couple behind Greenwich's new Constantino's Pizza and Ice Cream persevere with 'pandemic-proof' pairing - Greenwich Time - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- This former gang member wants to get kids off the street with weed - syracuse.com - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- Shack in the Back reopens this weekend in new, larger location - WLKY Louisville - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- Summer Employment Forecast: Will the job market warm back up? - northernexpress.com - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- Booming growth: Alamo Ranch's many changes the last 17 years - mySA - May 15th, 2022 [May 15th, 2022]
- Tesla starts construction on giant new Santa Monica Supercharger, but wheres the 1950s diner? - Electrek.co - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- McDonald's Announces Construction To Begin On Broadway In Alton - RiverBender.com - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Kelly's Roast Beef is coming to Sarasota, other locations - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Will you try the Chipotlane? Fall River Chipotle Mexican Grill nearly ready to roll - Fall River Herald News - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Medical Projects Feed Construction Pipeline - Arkansas Business Online - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Flip'd by IHOP Construction Underway - Source of the Spring - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- 10-year challenge: What has changed in Wilmington since 2012 - StarNewsOnline.com - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Table Hoppin': Executive chef embraces Salem Cross Inn's history of food and family - Worcester Mag - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- New Eastfield at Baybrook development to break ground in 2022, anchored by H-E-B - Community Impact Newspaper - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Drivers urged to 'be mindful' of construction zones on Bluffton's Calhoun Street - Bluffton Today - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Galveston Seafood Company sailed against pandemic headwinds to bring coastal fare to Abilene - Abilene Reporter-News - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Developer, on the strength of 230% growth, adds to executive team - Business Observer - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Silicon Valley's Springline Unveils Robust Restaurant Line Up, Impressive Office Tenants, and Hotel-like Residences - PRNewswire - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Driving development: Projects on US 377 in Keller, Roanoke to see major progress this year - Community Impact Newspaper - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Plans to build three detached houses on car park of vacant restaurant approved - Lancashire Telegraph - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Coming to Grand Rapids: Noodlepigs charitable new take on ramen - WOODTV.com - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Van Ness is a mess and it's hurting businesses - Beaumont Enterprise - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- 2 restaurants opened in June in Fort Collins; more in the works - Coloradoan - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- The Future of East 4th Street | Save our Sauce: Doug Trattner reports - WKYC.com - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- In-N-Out eyeing The Woodlands for new location - Community Impact Newspaper - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Neighbors worry about changes as construction starts for The Grove Phoenix - AZFamily - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Greenville restaurant owner vowed to rebuild, but instead he'll honor his Greek parents - Greenville News - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- British darts bar and restaurant to open first Texas location - Houston Chronicle - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Ready to rock? Construction of temporary Rockford casino approved - Rockford Register Star - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Shawmut Celebrates the Reopening of The Langham, Boston - Boston Real Estate Times - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Short-staffed Akron restaurants are booming with business - Crain's Cleveland Business - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Gaming board ok's construction of temporary Rockford casino - Associated Press - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Hotels and Restaurants Rebound Summer Held Back by Shortages of Everything - The Wall Street Journal - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- New eateries, stores on tap at The Woodlands Mall - Houston Chronicle - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Wings and lattes: Chicken spots and coffee chains booming on LI - Newsday - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- New Hood's convenience store in the works on Highway 96 - Lawrencecountyrecord - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- LOCAL RESTAURANT NEWS: Culvers confirms purchase of former Ruby Tuesday, to start construction this spring - Dayton Daily News - January 3rd, 2021 [January 3rd, 2021]
- Huntington marinas, beaches to get improvements in off-season - Newsday - January 3rd, 2021 [January 3rd, 2021]
- Guy whose North End restaurant was cited for Covid-19 violations spent New Year's Eve at a maskless, crowded dance party in Florida, where he screamed... - January 3rd, 2021 [January 3rd, 2021]
- The 2021 Restaurant Openings That D.C. Dining Experts Cant Wait to Try - Eater DC - January 3rd, 2021 [January 3rd, 2021]
- Downtown Austin business news: New restaurants, a cookie service from an alum of The French Laundry and a second location for Bandit Coffee -... - January 3rd, 2021 [January 3rd, 2021]
- Seattle bars, restaurants that closed in December - seattlepi.com - January 3rd, 2021 [January 3rd, 2021]
- Looking back at Gaston County restaurants we gained, lost in 2020 - Gaston Gazette - January 3rd, 2021 [January 3rd, 2021]