The Official Start of Beer Season

May 12-18, 2025

Attention indie beer lovers! It’s time to get ready for the official start of beer season, when temps rise, backyard grills heat up, taproom patios reopen, and lawn games get serious. Time to stretch your palate. Lift some pints. Get into shape for a fun, flavorful summer. Beer we go!

Courtesy of www.brewersassociation.org

Temperatures are warming up, taproom patios are reopening, and consumers are gearing up for a fun, flavorful summer. Beer season is here, ushered in by American Craft Beer Week (ACBW), the annual celebration of craft beer hosted by the Brewers Association (BA).

From May 12-18, 2025, American Craft Beer Week serves as a reminder that breweries are vibrant community hubs. In 2024, 9,976 operating U.S. craft breweries employed 197,000 people. Most Americans live within 10 miles of a craft brewery.

This celebration goes beyond beer, reflecting consumer interest in new flavor profiles and beverage options. Many breweries have adapted their products accordingly, offering a variety of unique beer styles and beyond beer beverages including cider, seltzer, and non-alcohol options to appeal to a wider customer base. That expansion is paying off: 52% of breweries producing non-beer beverages experienced volume growth in 2024, a 10% increase compared to the overall category.