Goodbye, 2023

As we prepare to close the door on the 2023 chapter of the Bent Water book and look ahead to the new year, we wanted to take a moment to reflect and share some of our thoughts about the industry as a whole and what we expect to see in the year ahead.

We love being part of this industry. Making beer is a labor of love, and we’re proud to give it our all day in and day out to make a high quality product that is enjoyed everywhere from the beaches of sunny Florida to the mountains of New Hampshire. We are proud to support organizations that reflect the work ethic and personal beliefs of our team and community, like the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the New England Mountain Bike Association, and the Special Operators Transition Foundation. 

But there’s no doubt that many experts and brewing professionals have some concerns about the state of the industry and where it’s headed. Times have changed, and they will continue to change. However, adaptability and innovation are areas where we feel we’ve historically been able to rise to the occasion, and we believe there are plenty of opportunities ahead both for breweries and consumers. We asked a few of our leaders at Bent Water to weigh in with some thoughts about the industry in 2024 (and beyond), and wanted to share them with you as we prepare to turn the page to the new year. 

“Technology and new ways of doing business will continue to become more common in our industry. For example, since the pandemic, telesales vs. in-person sampling has become more popular as beer buyers at retail locations work remotely. Products that drive new curiosity and demand are another good example. Novel collaborations and partnerships will continue to be popular. The upside for customers is that there will be a lot of interesting new things happening.” – Aaron Reames, Co-founder and President of Bent Water Brewing.

“Breweries are going to have to be creative with their products: whether that means changing up package size and format, marketing strategies, product development outside of beer. This will be in an effort to decrease the cost of boots on the ground for a sales team, since it’s becoming harder for small-midsize brands to expand their sales teams. We’re definitely predicting an uptick in spending on the retail side, but breweries will just need to figure out how to speak to the younger consumer in order to tap into some of that revenue while making sure they don’t stray too far from formula to alienate their loyal and repeat customers. 2024 will be the year of the balancing act.” – Drew Yeager, Head Brewer and COO of Bent Water Brewing. 

The summarized version: 2024 will be interesting. Yes, there will be some difficulties, but smart, adaptable, hard-working people can and should be able to move with the changes. Personally, we feel up to the challenge and look forward to bringing more award-winning beers and great experiences into the lives of friends, family, and customers. Cheers to the new year!