Major brewers cut hundreds of jobs nationwide as beer industry slows

The global beer industry is undergoing a period of consolidation as major brewers announce plant closures, layoffs and restructuring plans amid slowing demand and shifting consumer preferences. The closures have impacted major brands as well as small, family-owned breweries.

Anheuser-Busch shutters breweries and cuts jobs

Anheuser-Busch has recently announced a series of brewery closures across the United States as it streamlines its production network.

The brewing giant said it will close facilities in Fairfield, California, and Merrimack, New Hampshire, while also selling its longtime brewery in Newark, New Jersey. The closures are expected to affect about 475 full-time employees nationwide, though the company said some workers may be offered transfers to other facilities. 

The Fairfield brewery, which opened in 1976, shut down in early 2026 and resulted in 238 layoffs, according to state labor filings. 

The company said the moves are part of an effort to modernize operations and invest more heavily in its remaining breweries and brands.

Molson Coors and other brewers reduce workforce

Other major brewers have also cut jobs as the industry adjusts to softer beer sales.

Molson Coors Beverage Company previously announced plans to eliminate roughly 400 salaried positions in the Americas, representing about 9% of its regional salaried workforce, as part of a broader restructuring strategy. 

Meanwhile, global brewer Heineken has also trimmed staff, with layoffs affecting roughly 7% of its workforce as automation and declining beer volumes reshape the beverage manufacturing sector. 

Craft breweries also facing closures

Smaller craft brewers are facing similar pressures. In Texas, family-owned Bear King Brewing Co. closed in March after seven years in business due to rising costs and economic pressures, despite recently winning a gold medal at the Texas Craft Brewers Guild Brewers Cup. 

Industry groups say the challenges reflect a broader shift in drinking habits, with overall U.S. beer production declining and consumers increasingly turning to alternatives such as canned cocktails, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages. 

As beer consumption softens, analysts expect additional consolidation across both large multinational brewers and smaller craft producers in the coming years.

Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same