• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • About Craft Brewing Business

Craft Brewing Business

Professional Insight, Unfiltered

Craft Brewing Business Craft Brewing Business
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment & Systems
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • COVID-19

The next craft beer? Three reasons craft spirits are on the rise

May 18, 2015Chris Crowell

craft spirits
Are craft spirits the “next craft beer?”

We break from your regularly scheduled craft beer-centric business news and insight to look at what some beverage industry deep-thinkers believe is the next “craft beer boom” — craft spirits.

Now, let’s be clear, craft beer still is the current “craft beer boom,” and doesn’t really show signs that it is slowing in its world domination trajectory. On average, a new brewery opens its doors every single day in the U.S.; craft brewers now account for one out of every 10 beers sold in the U.S.; higher learning institutions are adding brewing minors, certificates and even four-year programs.

As civilizations of Big Beer drinkers have fallen in the wake of our craft beer conquerors, the taste landscape has been altered as a result. Craft beer’s ongoing success has the created opportunities for like-minded travelers in adjacent craft beverage industries, specifically craft spirits — or so thinks Steven Earles is the CEO of Portland-based Eastside Distilling.

“Craft beer completely disrupted what was once believed to be a very traditional business,” Earles said. “We believe craft spirits will follow the same path as craft beer. It’s basically a slam dunk, according to the data… and our overall hunch.”

In 2008, when Earles’ distillery launched, there were only 210 craft distillers in America. Now, there are more than 700. Whiskey and bourbon continues its rapid growth. Helping to fuel this recent growth, women now represent 37 percent of the whiskey drinkers in the U.S., compared to just 15 percent in the 1990s.

And stories continue to unfold regarding possible bourbon shortages due to high demand. Innovations in distilling methods to create new flavor profiles are taking charge. Earles’ distillery uses locally sourced barrels and ingredients for their infused whiskeys and rums.

“Some states like Washington and Oregon – where we are based – have strict laws regarding quality control on distilled spirits,” Earles says. “We’re proud to be from the northwest and that we use locally sourced ingredients.”

Earles discusses America’s growing taste for quality spirits, and what craft may mean for the future of the liquor industry.

Click “Next” to continue reading the story.

Pages: Page 1 Page 2
whiskey spirits advertisement cbb crop
Craft spirits market watch: The category killed it in 2017, projected to grow 22% by 2022
craft-spirits-distillery
What is the growth potential of craft spirits in the U.S.?
Atwater Brewery Logo Featured
Atwater Brewery ready to debut line of craft spirits
newbelgium_2023_wildnectar-shopping-basket_family_IMG_2
Beyond beer: Examples of craft breweries exploring canned cocktails

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ken Meng says

    May 22, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    Ken Meng liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  2. ChooseGlass says

    May 21, 2015 at 12:54 pm

    The next craft beer? Three reasons craft spirits are on the rise #ChooseGlass http://t.co/dNDWEp560r via @CraftBrewingBiz

    Log in to Reply
  3. DistillerySOFT says

    May 21, 2015 at 11:15 am

    Craft spirits the new craft beer? Here are 3 reasons why. http://t.co/IHAaPmy6Wa #Distilling #OSpirits

    Log in to Reply
  4. KCHopTalk says

    May 20, 2015 at 1:12 pm

    The next craft beer? Three reasons craft spirits are on the rise http://t.co/AmjuSWjLRe

    Log in to Reply
  5. CindyMolchany says

    May 20, 2015 at 12:05 pm

    The next craft beer? Three reasons craft spirits are on the rise http://t.co/0DM8BsG2HL #craftspirits #craftbeer

    Log in to Reply
  6. crsimp01 says

    May 19, 2015 at 10:47 pm

    RT @CraftBevGuy: Get READY! Craft #Spirits following the #CraftBeer growth trend! >> http://t.co/GG5r1UQltp > thx @CraftBrewingBiz @crsimp0…

    Log in to Reply
  7. CraftBevGuy says

    May 19, 2015 at 10:47 pm

    Get READY! Craft #Spirits following the #CraftBeer growth trend! >> http://t.co/GG5r1UQltp > thx @CraftBrewingBiz @crsimp01 @jhoustonmba

    Log in to Reply
  8. crsimp01 says

    May 19, 2015 at 10:23 pm

    @CraftBevGuy The next craft beer? Three reasons craft spirits are on the rise http://t.co/eGdn3WuRLF via @craftbrewingbiz

    Log in to Reply
  9. crsimp01 says

    May 19, 2015 at 10:22 pm

    @CraftBevGuy My Pleasure! http://t.co/eGdn3WuRLF

    Log in to Reply
  10. BrewabilityLab says

    May 19, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    RT @crsimp01: The next craft beer? Three reasons craft spirits are on the rise http://t.co/eGdn3WuRLF via @craftbrewingbiz

    Log in to Reply
  11. BrewandCovered says

    May 18, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    The next craft beer? Three reasons craft spirits are on the rise http://t.co/bMi2TfM8Yq

    Log in to Reply
  12. Juan Carlos Sibaja Delcore says

    May 18, 2015 at 3:37 pm

    Juan Carlos Sibaja Delcore liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  13. Michigan Breweries says

    May 18, 2015 at 3:37 pm

    Michigan Breweries liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  14. CODODesign says

    May 18, 2015 at 3:05 pm

    RT @CraftBrewingBiz: The next craft beer? 3 reasons craft spirits are on the rise http://t.co/DPsSXxkhG3

    Log in to Reply
  15. maevejoanna says

    May 18, 2015 at 2:50 pm

    RT @crsimp01: The next craft beer? Three reasons craft spirits are on the rise http://t.co/eGdn3WuRLF via @craftbrewingbiz

    Log in to Reply
  16. crsimp01 says

    May 18, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    The next craft beer? Three reasons craft spirits are on the rise http://t.co/eGdn3WuRLF via @craftbrewingbiz

    Log in to Reply
  17. Adam Holtvogt says

    May 18, 2015 at 2:21 pm

    Adam Holtvogt liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  18. Jeff Platt says

    May 18, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    Jeff Platt liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  19. Olds College Brewmaster & Brewery Operations Management says

    May 18, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    Olds College Brewmaster & Brewery Operations Management liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  20. sean01russ says

    May 18, 2015 at 12:32 pm

    RT @CraftBrewingBiz: The next craft beer? 3 reasons craft spirits are on the rise http://t.co/DPsSXxkhG3

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Beyond beer: Examples of craft breweries exploring canned cocktails
  • San Diego breweries gear up for Pucks & Pints Charity Hockey Game
  • Are you a steel keg champion? The Steel Keg Association wants to honor you
  • Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicago finally opens this summer

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • newbelgium_2023_wildnectar-shopping-basket_family_IMG_2Beyond beer: Examples of craft breweries exploring canned cocktails
    March 16, 2023
  • brooklyn 35 featureBrooklyn Lager turns 35 and more beers to know this week
    March 14, 2023
  • Backwoods Brewing to open a 19-acre resort called Party Acres in the Columbia River gorge this May
    March 13, 2023
  • Distribution update: NYC’s Alewife Brewing now sells in eastern Pennsylvania + news from Maui, Urban South and more
    March 13, 2023
  • Years in planning: Flix Brewhouse will open a nine-screen luxury theater and brewery in Mansfield, Texas, this fall
    March 9, 2023
  • insurance-risk-exposure7 crazy insurance claims ─ could your brewery fall victim?
    March 8, 2023

Footer

  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Craft Brewing Business
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise on Craft Brewing Business
  • Media Kit Download
  • Privacy and Terms

© 2023 · CBB Media LLC