Your Guide to American Craft Beer Week 2025
American Craft Beer Week (ACBW) 2025 runs from May 12–18, 2025, kicking off what organizers call “the official start of beer season.” As temperatures rise and summer approaches, this week-long celebration shines a spotlight on America’s small and independent craft breweries. An annual tradition that’s been going strong since 2006 with a focus on rallying beer enthusiasts across all 50 states to celebrate the creativity and community spirit of their local breweries.
Soooo… What Is American Craft Beer Week?
American Craft Beer Week is a yearly, nation-wide celebration dedicated to U.S. craft beer and the breweries who brew it. Launched by the Brewers Association in 2006 as a platform to support independent brewers, ACBW has grown into a major event on the beer calendar each May. For one week, breweries large and small host festivities to connect with their communities and spread the love of craft beer. Across the country, you’ll find a ton of local events, and you can find more information about local events by visiting your local bottle shop or brewery website and social media pages.
This year’s American Craft Beer Week carries the festive tagline, “The Official Start of Beer Season.” The idea is to mark the transition into warmer months with fresh pints and community gatherings. As the Brewers Association describes it, “when spring turns to summer and patio weather begins, it’s the perfect time to stretch your palate and lift some pints in preparation for a fun, flavorful summer.” After all, who doesn’t love an excuse to try new beers and support local businesses at the same time?
Why It Matters to Small Breweries
American Craft Beer Week is a vital boost for the small and independent breweries that make up the backbone of the U.S. beer scene. Craft breweries are typically independently owned, community-oriented businesses, and they thrive on local support. The exposure and traffic generated during ACBW can be a big deal for these breweries, many of whom don’t have massive marketing budgets to reach new customers. By shining a national spotlight on craft brewers for a week, ACBW helps level the playing field a bit against the giant “macro” beer brands.
The impact of craft breweries on American culture and the economy is enormous. In 2023, the number of independent U.S. craft breweries hit an all-time high of 9,761, collectively producing 23.4 million barrels of beer and directly employing over 191,000 people according to the Brewers Association Industry Production Report. These places are more than just facilities that pump out beer, they’re meet up spots with your best pals or where you go for the big game. Most importantly, they are a sense of pride for the local community. “Craft breweries aren’t just businesses; they’re the heartbeat of our communities, fostering connections and enriching our neighborhoods” says Ann Obenchain of the Brewers Association in a 2024 press release announcing American Craft Beer Week. In towns and cities across the country, these are places where friendships are formed, and culture is brewed. By visiting your local taproom for a pint, you’re supporting farmers and suppliers around the nation, and helping keep your town’s economical spirit alive.
ACBW matters more than ever in 2025. You see, the craft beer industry is at a crossroads. After decades of steady growth, the past year has been challenging. According to the Brewers Association’s 2024 Year in Beer Report, 2024 was the first year since 2005 with a net decline in operating craft breweries… 434 openings versus 501 closures. Craft beer volume also dipped about 4% to 23.1 million barrels, and while craft brewers still hold 13.3% of the U.S. beer market by volume, overall beer consumption has been flat or declining. What this means is that your support is more critical than ever. When you choose visit a local brewery or purchase their products, you’re helping that business survive and thrive in a tough environment. ACBW is our chance to say thank you, and ensure that this vibrant craft beer culture continues to grow. By participating, you help small breweries gain the recognition and sales they need to keep innovating and contributing to their local communities. Showing up for ACBW is a win-win: you get to enjoy great beer, and your support helps sustain the craft beer revolution for everyone.
How Do You Take Action?
One of the best things about American Craft Beer Week is that anyone (+21) can take part. You don’t need to be a beer expert or attend a big festival; supporting the cause can be as simple as stopping by your local brewery or grabbing some of their beer to take home. Here are some fun and easy ways you can participate in ACBW 2025 and show love to independent breweries:
Visit a Local Brewery or Taproom: Plan a trip to a nearby brewery, relax on the patio, and enjoy some killer brews. (Remember, most Americans live within 10 miles of a craft brewery, so there’s likely one closer than you think!) It’s the perfect time to drop in. Bring a friend or two and make an outing of it!
Try Some New Beers: Use this week as an excuse to “stretch your palate”. If you stick to the same style (say, IPAs or Stout), try ordering a flight to try something new and refreshing. Breweries often brew one-off or seasonal beers for ACBW, so you might find something that’s only available for a limited time!
Share the Experience on Social Media: Help spread the word by posting about your American Craft Beer Week adventures. Snap a photo of that beautiful beer flight or the cool brewery mural and share it with hashtags like #AmericanCraftBeerWeek or #ACBW. Tag the brewery too. This not only shows your support, but also encourages friends and followers to check out local breweries. The more people talking about ACBW, the bigger the impact.
Attend Special Events: Keep an eye out for special events in your area during May 12–18. Breweries or bottle shops may host tap takeovers or hold beer-and-food pairings. Some might have trivia nights, games, or charity fundraisers as part of the week. Again, I recommend checking the brewery/ bottle shop websites, social media, or local event listings to see what’s happening.
Buy Local Beer (to-go or at the store): Supporting ACBW isn’t limited to drinking on-site. You can pick up craft beer to enjoy at home too. Next time you’re at the grocery store, skip the domestics and reach for something from your local spot. Look for the Independent Craft Brewer Seal on the packaging (it’s a little upside-down beer bottle that says “Certified Independent Craft”). This indicates the beer was brewed by a independent U.S. craft brewer. By choosing those products, you’re voting with your wallet for small business. You can also stop by a brewery taproom to fill a growler or snag some cans to-go. It all adds up to show support.
Brewery Merch: Consider buying merchandise or gift cards from your favorite local brewery. Wearing a brewery’s T-shirt or baseball cap is a fun way to show pride in local beer (and it’s free advertising for them!). Purchasing merch or gift cards during ACBW helps inject additional revenue into the brewery, which can be really meaningful for a small operation.
At its core, American Craft Beer Week 2025 is about celebration – celebrating the mass selection of beers we love, the artisans who brew them, and the community that sustains them. It’s a chance to pause and appreciate how far craft beer has come. Not long ago, choices were limited and “good beer” was hard to find in many places. Today, thanks to thousands of passionate independent brewers, we can enjoy world-class beer in our hometowns and neighborhoods. These small breweries continue to make America’s beer culture one of the best in the world, and that’s truly something to toast to.
