BUFFALO, N.Y. — Saturday, April 11, marks the second annual New York State Craft Beer Day, a day designated by Gov. Kathy Hochul to celebrate New York’s more than 500 independent craft breweries, which support 22,000 jobs and generate a $4.8 billion economic impact.

While New York is ranked second in the country for the number of craft breweries, the industry has taken some hits in recent years, with a lot of established, crowd-favorite breweries and taprooms closing their doors.

“It’s the great communicator. Brings people together,” said Yvon Paul Pasquarella, director of sales and marketing for Chandler Street Breweries, the recently opened taproom that houses Community Beer Works, Thin Man Brewery and Smoldered Society.

Estimated to bring in about $4.8 billion to New York, the craft brewing industry has been flowing for years.

“At one point in New York state, we were opening a brewery every eight days,” explained Paul Leone, executive director for the New York Brewers Association.

New York’s craft beer scene has certainly made its mark on beer lovers.

“Flying Bison [Brewing Company] is – it was very close to my heart,” said Paul Marko, co-founder of the Buffalo Beer Geeks. “One of my favorite places. I got married there.“

While people have been drinking it up, things are certainly changing.

“The growth that the craft beer industry saw in New York state, and really all over the country, was never sustainable,” said Leone.

Pasquarella knows the struggle.

“[Thin Man Brewery] went through some ownership changes, some struggles, as everyone did,” he said.

Thin Man closed their Elmwood Avenue taproom in 2023, followed by the closure of their Chandler Street taproom.

They are not the only brewery that has closed its doors in recent years.

“I have one last can of Flying Bison beer – their Oktoberfest,” said Marko. “I can’t bring myself to drink it.”

Despite that, the New York Brewers Association says the industry itself certainly isn’t skunked.

“Are breweries closing? Yes. Will they continue to close? Yes, for a variety of reasons,” said Leone. “But we’re seeing at the same time in New York that breweries are continuing to open.”

The pandemic took its toll.

And now, with more RTD (ready-to-drink), non-alcoholic and THC-infused options available locally, and fewer people drinking overall, there’s a lot of competition within the brewing space.

“Wine is down. Spirits are down,” said Marko. “Jim Beam stopped production for a whole year. I mean, that’s just amazing to think about.”

Right now, there are about 500 breweries in New York.

“I always say that breweries aren’t bars, and that’s not to knock bars in any way, but you go to a bar to drink, you go to a brewery to socialize. It’s more communal in a way,” said Leone. “I think a lot of breweries today are leaning into that.”

Breweries and taprooms across the state are bringing in robust food menus, events and creative collaborations. It’s all part of the new business plan.

“You can’t just open up a white box and throw a bunch of folding tables together and put beer on the table,” said Pasquarella. “Now that we have three breweries in one, we’re able to attack our distribution channels as a united front.”

The Brewers Association notes that closure rates are still lower than those of restaurants, and state legislation works to support breweries.

“It’s more than just a catch phrase, but if you want your local brewery to be around, go out and visit them,” said Leone. “They have more to offer than you think.”

The New York Brewers Association says the state’s peak was in 2024 at about 535 craft breweries.

“Fundamentally, beer is not dead,” said Pasquarella. “It’s just changed a little bit. That’s all.”