The beer industry is transforming before our eyes. Start-ups are booming and driving growth, particularly here in Oregon. However, craft beer overall is slowing and macros are declining outright. What does the outlook hold for Oregon breweries and what growth opportunities remain? At the Oregon Brewers Guild annual meeting today I will be on a panel that looks at some of these issues and trends. I clearly don’t have all the answers but will cover one good opportunity that is largely untapped to date: international exports.

In the past I have teased an Oregon Start-Up Brewery report, but clearly that hasn’t happened. I am taking this opportunity, however, to write down many of my thoughts on the matter. Below are my extended remarks that include the most important portions of that never written report. My slides for the conference plus some additional work are below as well.