Buzz kill: US breweries shutter as fanfare over craft beers appears to fade

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Eric BergerMarch 19, 2026 at 01:00 PM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

A US brewery, Call to Arms Brewing Company, closed its doors in December 2025 after a successful run. The business, founded by Chris Bell in 2015, had gained recognition for its beers, including a gold medal win at the 2018 World Beer Cup. However, sales decreased and costs increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to financial struggles. This is part of a national trend, with over 100 breweries closing in Colorado alone over the last two years. The craft beer industry experienced rapid growth between 2009 and 2018, increasing from 500 microbreweries to 4,500. Industry experts attribute this decline to changing consumer preferences and increased competition.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Vermont 30% World Beer Cup 40% University of Colorado Boulder 40% Shawnee Adelson 40% Avery Brewing 50% Long Trail Brewing ×250% Brewers Association 50% Denver 60% Colorado Brewers Guild ×270% Colorado ×370% Chris Bell ×480% Call to Arms Brewing Company ×490%

Keywords

craft beer 100% breweries 90% brewery closures 80% industry trends 70% microbreweries 60% covid-19 pandemic 60% beer market 50% home brewing 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.30

Source Transparency

Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Colorado

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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craft beer breweries brewery closures industry trends microbreweries covid-19 pandemic beer market home brewing

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