These findings are detailed in a new, first-of-its-kind report by the Independent Brewers of Europe (IBE), a cross-border alliance founded in 2024 to represent and protect independent brewing across the continent. Bringing together national associations from Europe, with continued expansion underway, IBE advocates for fair market conditions, transparency and the long-term viability of small and medium-sized independent breweries in a sector increasingly dominated by global corporations.
The report covering more than 3,000 independent breweries, provides a detailed snapshot of the pressures and opportunities shaping the sector across 12 European countries. It shows them grappling with energy price volatility, taxation pressures and intensifying competition from multinational companies that control a significant share of the beer market.
The report also highlights a generational shift in drinking habits. Younger adults are consuming beer less frequently than older generations, and a higher proportion choose not to drink alcohol at all. However, the data suggests that when younger consumers do choose beer, they are more focused on quality, authenticity and local production. In other words, they may be drinking less overall but drinking better.
To navigate current headwinds, many independent brewers are diversifying. Some 43% now produce additional products, most commonly soft drinks and sodas, while non-alcoholic beer is gaining importance as consumer interest in no- and low-alcohol options grows. Across Europe, beer styles vary widely, but pale ales, India Pale Ales and pale lagers remain the most commonly produced categories among independent breweries.
For more information, visit: https://www.independent-brewers.com/
