Most popular breweries of 2022 + Is the beer bar dead?

It's an interesting question, and Zach Mack—co-owner of the NYC's ABC Beer Company among other spots—had some compelling big picture thoughts.

Here are the takeaways:

• Beer bars aren't going to completely vanish, of course. It's just not the same world it was when they first rose to prominence.
• Consumers can get awesome beer almost anywhere now—airports, baseball stadiums, etc.—so you can't really focus on being the only place in town that has special beer, which is what the beer bar used to be.
• Instead, you must set yourself apart in other ways: maybe diversify your offerings to have really great other stuff (like a truly awesome wine list), too. Or maybe really—really—commit to offering great service. Your goal at the end of the day is to run a successful business, so adjust if you need to.
• And whale hunters—the people who are all about tracking down the most exclusive stuff and checking it in on Untappd—probably aren't your best customers anyway, so why focus on them?

Check out clips from the interview:

From Belgium to Portland, NYC to Wisconsin, here are the most popular breweries of 2022!

Source: This list is based on data from BeerMenus.com.

10. Chimay - Chimay, Belgium

Chimay is the most famous Trappist brewery in the world, but it's still surprising (and cool!) to see them show up on this list.

9. Other Half Brewing Company - Brooklyn, NY

This is the brewery that made standing in line for IPA releases a thing years ago, and they remain extremely popular, both in their own backyard and across the country.

8. Athletic Brewing Company - Stratford, CT

At first this was surprising...but why? Of course they're popular—NA beer is having a significant moment.

7. Trillium Brewing Company - Boston, MA

Another heavy hitter in the hazy IPA department. No surprises at all here.

6. Great Notion Brewing - Portland, OR

The west coast's only showing on the list, but with good reason—Great Notion is [arguably, of course] regarded as the cream of the Portland brewery crop.

5. Maine Beer Company - Freeport, ME

The makers of the famed Lunch and Dinner, this sought-after brewery routinely turns up near the top of these lists.

4. The Alchemist - Stowe, VT

The Alchemist made NE-style IPAs a thing with their world renowned Heady Topper (which will surely turn up in next week's round up of the most popular beers of 2022). And even with the million and a half NE/hazy IPAs out there, it still holds its own.

3. Untitled Art - Waunakee, WI

Untitled Art is diversified: they make great beer, interesting, high-end seltzers, and also high-quality NA beers. Appealing to these three different segments landed them on this list.

2. Tree House Brewing Company - Charlton, MA

Another well-known NE IPA maker from the northeast. Another totally unsurprising appearance on this list. Their most famous beer, Julius, used to be a fixture in beer trades from coast to coast.

1. 450 North Brewing Company - Columbus, IN

Famous for their slushy style beers and their NE/Hazy IPAs, 450 North from little Columbus, IN has some serious clout. It's no surprise at all that they topped the list as the most popular brewery of 2022.

📢 Coming to your inbox in next week's Brave New Bar newsletter: the most popular beers of 2022!

• The Brewer's Association released their 2022 Year in Beer report. Among other things, they predict that in 2023 brewery openings will be the lowest in more than 10 years.
• There's an interesting battle waging in MI on how tips should figure into the state's upcoming minimum wage increase.

Everybody here at Brave New Bar and BeerMenus.com wish you and yours a very happy holiday season—hope it's filled with some great drinks, great gifts, and great times!