Beer shipments continued to lag in May, according to the latest estimate from the Beer Institute. The organization reports that U.S. brewers removed approximately 13.2 million barrels for domestic consumption during the month, representing a 2.6% decline compared to May 2024. With this latest drop, total taxable removals for the year to date sit at 58.5 million barrels — down 5.9%, or nearly 3.7 million barrels, from the same five-month stretch last year. Let’s jump into the numbers.
| Taxable Removals – TTB | ||||
| (31 Gallon Barrels) | ||||
| Month | 2024 | 2025 | Percent Change | Volume Change |
| January | 11,568,810 | 10,555,934 | -8.8% | -1,012,876 |
| February | 12,121,088 | 10,124,013 | -16.5% | -1,997,075 |
| March | 12,461,007 | 12,500,000 | 0.3% | 38,993 |
| April | 12,477,706 | 12,100,000 | -3.0% | -377,706 |
| May | 13,550,007 | 13,200,000 | -2.6% | -350,007 |
| YTD | 62,178,618 | 58,479,947 | -5.9% | -3,698,671 |
The June 2025 taxable removals estimate is scheduled to be released on August 5, 2025.
Craft brewers can glean several useful insights from the Beer Institute’s taxable removals report, especially when tracking overall beer industry health and anticipating market conditions:
Key Takeaways for Craft Brewers
- Consumer demand trends: A year-over-year decline in taxable removals (-5.9% YTD) signals softened demand for beer overall, which could reflect shifting consumer preferences, economic pressure, or increased competition from other beverage segments.
- Production planning: Lower national volumes may suggest slower sales velocity. Craft brewers might consider adjusting production schedules, especially for core brands, to avoid excess inventory.
- Benchmarking: Craft breweries can compare their own shipment volumes and growth rates against national figures to assess how they’re performing relative to the industry.
- Pricing & promotion: Slower demand may create more price-sensitive environments. Brewers may need to double down on local promotions, innovation (e.g., non-alcoholic or seasonal styles), or taproom engagement to maintain momentum.
- Distributor conversations: The broader market slowdown could affect how much distributors are willing to carry. This data helps arm craft brewers with context for those conversations.
