Charlotte’s Brewery Industry Booming Despite Decline in Nationwide Beer Consumption

CHARLOTTE, NC -The thirst for beer may be running dry in America. A new report shows beer consumption nationwide is on the decline, but locally the appetite for beer is only getting bigger.

Glasses are filled to the brim with pilsners and IPAs at Lenny Boy Brewery off Tryon Street.

“The flavor, I mean it’s just refreshing, ” said Hannah Paynter, drinking a tall glass of beer.

Paynter and her friends say they support local watering holes and rarely drink mainstream brews like Budweiser or Miller.

“I prefer a craft, ” said Paynter, “a really delicious craft beer.”

According to the beer institute, a trade publication, American drinkers chose beer less than 50% of the time in 2017, down from more than 60% of the time in the mid 90’s. The reason, millennials are going for wine and liquor which can have fewer carbs and calories.

Jay Brown who hosts a local beer podcast called “Cheers Charlotte” says the shift away from beer doesn’t include the crafts.

“You see a lot of people going to liquor drinks from macro beer, the Budweiser, the Coors light,” said Brown.

He says craft brewers continue to break ground in Charlotte.

“There is pretty much three to four that open a year,” said Brown.

Town Brewing in West Charlotte will be opened in the fall. Brown says there are a half dozen other new breweries and taprooms in the works.

“Trends are more towards local beer, local craft beers,” said George Sistruck.

He’s a co-founder of Town Brewing. Sistruck says people in Charlotte are still in love with their craft beverages and they’re getting creative when it comes to attracting new palettes.

“We’ll have non alcoholic options and we’ll have non beer options that are alcoholic as well,” explained Sistruck.

The beer industry is booming in Charlotte, despite national reports that beer drinking is on the decline.