dtc-wine-report-2025

2026 Direct-to-Consumer Beer Shipping Report

Consumer demand is strong. Beer shipping regulations are lagging. What does it mean for the future of craft beer?

The 2026 Direct-to-Consumer Beer Shipping Report by Sovos ShipCompliant and the Brewers Association explores the growing disconnect between consumer demand for DtC beer access and the limited regulatory framework that allows it.

Drawing on new research, the report examines how craft beer drinkers view direct shipping, their purchasing intentions, and the broader market implications if direct beer shipping laws were expanded. It also highlights the current regulatory landscape and what evolving policies could mean for breweries seeking new ways to reach consumers and grow their brands.

Together, these insights provide a clearer picture of where the industry stands today and how evolving policies could unlock new opportunities for breweries, retailers, and consumers alike.

Get Your Copy of the 2026 DtC Beer Report

The 2026 DtC Beer Shipping Report: Demand, Regulation, and the Future of Craft Beer

What’s inside?

  • New consumer research powered by The Harris Poll on demand for DtC beer shipping and purchasing behavior
  • Insights into potential consumer spending, subscription interest, and brand discovery
  • A look at the current regulatory landscape and beer shipping laws by state
  • Analysis of how shipping beer directly to consumers impacts the broader three-tier system, including retail and on-premise sales
  • Industry perspective from the Brewers Association on the future of market access for craft brewers

The Current State of Direct-to-Consumer (DtC) Beer Shipping

About the DtC Beer Report

The report based on research conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Sovos ShipCompliant from January 6–8, 2026, among 2,051 U.S. adults age 21 and older, including 703 regular craft beer drinkers (those who drink craft beer at least once per month). Results have a ±2.7 percentage point margin of error at a 95% confidence level, measured using a Bayesian credible interval. The interval may be wider among subsets of respondents.

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