On the first Thursday of October, Bitter & Esters, the only homebrew supply shop in New York City, hosted its final homebrew swap. Owner John LaPolla, who had run the shop with his partner Douglas Amport since 2011, described the event as “a love letter to our customers,” reflecting both gratitude and sadness. “It was just a giant mix of appreciation and sadness,” LaPolla said. Ten days later, at 5:59 p.m., the shop made its final sale, marking the end of an era for both the business and its loyal community.
As LaPolla reflected on the shop’s closing, he said customers came in during the final days to say goodbye while he worked, often asking how he felt. “I don’t know, I’m still finishing it,” he replied at the time. “Now, I feel untethered … which is OK, it’s another chapter in life.” Though LaPolla plans to leave the city, he plans to attend a meeting of a local homebrew club, Brewminaries, for closure.
Bitter & Esters is part of a broader trend of homebrew supply shops closing across the United States. While the exact number of closures is difficult to quantify, the trend is undeniable. In 2024 alone, several well-known stores, including Atlantic Brew Supply in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Vermont Homebrew Supply in Winooski, Vermont, have shut down. My Local HomeBrew Shop in Falls Church, Virginia, closed its doors in late November, just months shy of its 20th anniversary.
Despite around 540 homebrew shops listed in the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) directory, many of these businesses also function as hardware stores or sell beer and wine. The closures reflect a significant decline in homebrewing interest in the U.S., mirrored by the AHA’s shrinking membership. From 45,000 members in 2016 to just 30,000 in 2023, the trend is evident. A decline in attendance at Homebrew Con, the AHA’s national event, led to this year’s convention being rolled into the Great American Beer Festival as the organization rethinks its future.
Local homebrew clubs are also feeling the impact. SoCal Cerveceros, a prominent club in Southern California, has seen its membership drop by 50% in the past three years, according to president Marvin Gomez. In Brooklyn, Brewminaries, a club that grew out of the Bitter & Esters community, still has 130 members, but that number has also declined, said president Kari Vaughn.
The shift away from homebrewing raises questions about the future of craft beer, which is facing its own challenges with interest and sales. As homebrewers disappear, the industry must consider how to sustain the community and creativity that homebrewing has long supported.
“Homebrewing clubs provide an important social outlet,” said Vaughn. “You make friends, you learn alongside each other. There’s a great satisfaction that comes with DIY, especially when it’s something you can then share with people.”
Chris Anderson, owner of Maryland Homebrew in Columbia, remains dedicated to the homebrewing community. “I loved this community so much I didn’t want to leave it,” she said.
Homebrewing has been a vital part of the American beer landscape for decades. Legalized by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 after being banned during Prohibition, homebrewing saw a boom as hobbyists began experimenting with beer styles not available in a market dominated by light lagers. This community even gave rise to some of the earliest craft breweries, such as Sierra Nevada Brewing and Samuel Adams.
Bitter & Esters played a key role in nurturing both the local brewing scene and its community. Several frequent customers transitioned from homebrewing to professional brewing, launching breweries such as Finback Brewery, Strong Rope Brewery, and KCBC. Tony Bellis, co-founder of KCBC, credited Bitter & Esters as pivotal in his career transition, noting that it was at the shop where he met key mentors in the brewing industry. The shop also helped diversify the homebrewing scene, encouraging a more inclusive environment for younger brewers and women.
By the mid-2010s, the craft beer boom, with over 4,000 breweries in operation, raised concerns that the rise of professional breweries could undermine homebrewing. Anderson recalls a slight downturn in homebrewing activity around 2015-2016. As Mike McGarvey, co-founder of 3 Stars Brewing in Washington, D.C., explained, the accessibility of professional beers meant fewer people turned to brewing at home.
While homebrewing remained popular for years, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a brief resurgence as people sought new hobbies during lockdowns. One major supplier, Northern Brewer, saw sales spike by 40-50% in the early months of the pandemic. However, as restrictions eased, many would-be brewers abandoned their projects, similar to the fate of other pandemic hobbies like knitting.
LaPolla attributes the decline to people’s desire to return to dining out and socializing in restaurants and breweries once the lockdowns ended. Financial factors also play a role: some homebrewers are deterred by rising ingredient costs. “Liquid yeast has gotten crazy expensive,” said Vaughn, while other shops like The Thirsty Quaker in Jersey City have noticed suppliers scaling back on product sizes, making purchases less accessible.
Generational shifts are also contributing to the decline. Many homebrewers are aging out of the hobby, with health and retirement concerns taking precedence. A 2018 AHA study found that 38% of members were from Generation X, compared to only 30% Millennials and 28% Baby Boomers. Research shows that younger generations, like Gen Z, are gravitating toward alternatives to alcohol, such as ready-to-drink cocktails or nonalcoholic beverages.
However, there remains optimism for the future of craft beer, despite the challenges. Many believe that beer’s long history makes it unlikely to fall out of favor entirely, as evidenced by previous industry cycles. Brooklyn’s Brett Taylor points to the 1990s craft beer crash as proof that, despite setbacks, the industry can rebound and grow stronger.
As for homebrewing’s role in the future, it remains uncertain. While many aspiring brewers are now gaining experience through entry-level brewery jobs or educational programs, homebrewing is still seen as a valuable pathway into the industry. Though some shops have gone online, the communal aspect of homebrewing, including sharing and tasting homemade beer, is something many enthusiasts fear will be lost in the digital age.
Interestingly, the rise of mead-making and other fermented beverages may bring new life to homebrew shops. The availability of simplified brewing systems like Pinter’s tabletop kit, which guarantees consistent results, could help overcome barriers to entry for new brewers.
Yet, for many, the key to homebrewing’s future lies not in the equipment, but in the community that it nurtures. As Bellis says, “The community space is lost online.” The connections and feedback that come from sharing beer with friends, learning together, and enjoying the results of one’s own hard work are at the heart of homebrewing—and what so many enthusiasts miss most.
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