According to a survey of members by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, two out of every three Texas craft breweries will be forced to permanently close by the end of 2021 due to the public health crisis brought on by COVID-19 and back-to-back shutdowns of on-premise business at “51% establishments.”

Key Survey Takeaways:

  • One in three Texas craft breweries says they’ll be forced to close in the next three months without some change to the current shutdown order or new economic relief options.
  • Two in three believe they will not make it to the end of the year under current conditions.
  • Only 14% of responding breweries believe they could make it longer than one year under current conditions.
  • Responding breweries are currently experiencing an approximately 55% YoY revenue decline with one in five breweries experiencing an 80% or more revenue decline.
  • Since the onset of the pandemic, breweries have been forced to lay off or furlough an average 36% of their workforces

Statistics are based on survey results from 87 Texas craft breweries, representing approx. 40% of the TCBG’s operating brewery members.

“Texas has already seen craft breweries permanently close because of the pandemic and ensuing economic crisis,” Texas Craft Brewers Guild Executive Director Charles Vallhonrat said. “The outlook from here is even worse. We continue to implore Governor Abbott to finally do something to help them. His 51% Executive Order is crushing Texas breweries, and for no good reason. Before he inexplicably closed taprooms down for a second time, they were operating under the same health, safety, and social distancing guidelines as restaurants and other businesses that the Governor has allowed to remain open. We’re just asking for consistency and fairness.”

In a surprising turn of events, the TABC issued guidance for manufacturing and retail establishments to expand or reduce their licensed premise. While some breweries immediately took advantage of the new modification allowance, the guidance provided more confusion than clarity and certainly did not address the issue at hand: breweries are not bars.

In an effort to rally that community support, the Texas Craft Brewers Guild is calling on beer enthusiasts across the state to help #SaveTexasBreweries.

How you can help:

  1. Buy beer-to-go directly from the brewery, and if you are able, enjoy one safely on the patio.

  2. Purchase a gift card or merchandise from a local brewery

  3. Visit Save Texas Breweries to send a message to the Governor. You can also write him a letter.

  4. Keep up with #SaveTexasBeer and spread the word!

“Texans, if you want your local breweries to still be in business on the other side of this second shutdown, please continue to vote with your dollar and buy local, small, and independent beer,” Vallhonrat said. 

 

Additional resources:

 

Photo courtesy of the Texas Craft Brewers Guild
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