2022 Direct-to-Consumer Beer Shipping Report

The second annual Direct-to-Consumer (DtC) Beer Shipping Report, presented by Sovos ShipCompliant and the Brewers Association, finds that consumers want their favorite brews shipped to their front doors, and they are willing to pay for it. The report offers an in-depth analysis of a consumer poll and an economist’s review of the DtC beer shipping market.

The Sovos ShipCompliant/Harris Poll consumer survey finds that 92% of regular craft beer drinkers would purchase beer DtC monthly if permitted in their state—yet beer DtC interstate shipping is only available to 14.8% of the 21+ U.S. population. The potential of this mostly untapped market is huge. (Regular craft beer drinkers are defined as those who drink craft beer at least once per month.)

Read the 2022 Direct-to-Consumer Beer Shipping Report now:

Opportunities for craft brewers

The potential market scope for DtC beer remains to be seen, but certainly far surpasses the current levels of sale, given the relatively small number of states where DtC beer shipping is allowed. In fact, 68% of regular craft beer drinkers who would like to purchase beer DtC said they would spend $50 or more a month, while 67% of regular craft beer drinkers aspire to have beer shipped directly to their homes in 2022.

The survey revealed the following key takeaways:

Demand for legal change is mounting. There is clear interest for greater DtC shipping rights, and states like New York and California are reintroducing legislation to expand options for consumers.
The desire for DtC beer is on par with everyday items. Beer lovers have spoken: 54% of respondents want their favorite brews shipped to their front door via a third-party carrier, the same way they receive clothing, food and other household items.
The market space is poised to grow. While beer has some structural impediments to reaching the DtC market size and share of wine, even modest growth translates into a potentially large market for both consumers and brewers. Simple parity in shipping availability would grow the potential consumer market 6.5X for beer.

The Direct-to-Consumer Beer Shipping Report also profiles DtC craft beer drinker demographics. Download your complimentary copy of the report today for an in-depth look at the consumer and producer sides of this emerging market.

*This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Sovos ShipCompliant from January 11-13, 2021 among 1,869 U.S. adults ages 21 and older, among whom 568 drink craft beer at least once per month. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Sovos ShipCompliant at helloship@sovos.com.