Craft beer

What’s The Chinese Craft Beer Market Like?

Craft beer as a new imported product has attracted the attention of many entrepreneurs and young consumers in Europe and the United states.

In America craft beer is poised to take a quarter of all beer sales. According to the craft brewers association, more than 25 million barrels of craft beer were sold in the United States alone in 2017, with sales of $26 billion. Compared with 170 million barrels and 110 billion dollars of sales on total in 2017, craft beer sales accounted for 14.7% of the national beer market and. That means one out of every seven beers drunk in the United States is a craft beer.

The rapid rise of craft beer in the US faces two big challenges in China: Chinese wallets and cultural incompatibility.

Whether it’s Snowflake, Qingdao, Budweiser or the deadly Usu, what ordinary Chinese people drink are industrial beers. The biggest advantage of industrial beer is its low cost.

Traditional brewed beer has a long fermentation process, so industrial beer shortens the fermentation cycle to improve the yield and efficiency. Traditional brewed beer has decent amount of yeasts and shorter shelf life. Industrial beer adopts filtration, sterilization and other technologies to reduce the yeast content to extend its shelf life. Industrial production has brought lower cost raw materials, higher output and longer shelf life for beer, but at the same time it has lost the flavor and the quality associated with beer. Traditional brewed beer versus industrial beer is like freshly squeezed juice versus juice drinks. We hope you understand the analogy.

Beer is an imported product in China. The low price is the key to a successful promotion and rapid popularity of industrial beer in China.

The higher cost of craft beer naturally leads to higher prices, which is the first challenge craft beer faces in the Chinese market. Just like juice infusion, juice drink and fresh juice, the cost is nearly ten times more without debating about its taste. The promotion of fresh juice and concentrated juice should be based on the growth of the market consumption power. The same is true for beer.

Craft beer and cultural differences

In addition to price, cultural customs are also a major factor that differentiates the Chinese and American craft beer markets.

Americans drink craft beer simply everywhere. You can find craft beer on a bar counter in New York City, on the van at Ballard farmers market in Seattle, on supermarket shelves in small towns in Ohio, and on the menu in country pubs. According to the national craft beer association, there are more than 6,000 craft breweries in the United States alone!

Going to a bar in the United States and eating hot pot in northeast China Lu string, Sichuan and Chongqing is almost the same. It’s the first choice between friends to kill time, and exchange feelings; Having a glass over good news from work (maybe a promotion or salary increase), drinking when the love-life is falling apart etc. Likewise in China – There are many barbecue stalls in Northeast China, hot pot restaurants in Sichuan and Chongqing all over the country and countryside.

In Denver, there are more than 300 craft beer bars-  More than McDonald’s restaurants! Naturally, the proliferation of bars has become the first channel for beer sales. Competition among bars, of course, requires more brands and flavors of beer for differentiation. These bars are the fermentation tanks for the development of craft beer culture in the United States.

In China, for comparison, the industrial beer market share is 99%. China resources snow that Qingdao beer, Anheuser-busch Inbev, Carlsberg and yanjing beer are the five big carve up the market.

What about craft beer ？

The answer to this question contains an enticing opportunity.

Most entrepreneurs in this industry prefer to take their time. They stick to the spirit and techniques of craftsmanship rather than making something that is popular. It’s also interesting and respectable to open bars, launch new products, and work hard in your own city to maintain the old shop-like, artisanal operation, which provides consumers with more diversified taste choices. But there’s still a concern- How many of the craft brewing brands can be stable and profitable in the market of a single city? Specially when the price is usually not more than twice as expensive as industrial beer.

Growth in craft beer has slowed in the United States, but there is still a clear trend in China of growth. With more western-style barbecue bars, craft beer bars, boutique supermarkets and convenience stores, craft beer has begun to expand in China.

If you are interested in more in-depth evaluation of Chinese market and interested in making business in China please share with us. We might be able to provide great insights.

Method of Preserving Beer Brewed At Home

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1) How large is China’s craft beer market in 2025?

  • Estimates place craft beer at roughly 2–3% of China’s total beer volume, but 6–9% of urban premium/value share in Tier 1–2 cities, driven by on-premise bars and premium retail.

2) Where does craft beer sell best in China?

  • Tier 1 cities (Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou) and affluent Tier 2 hubs (Chengdu, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan) with strong bar culture, Western dining, and boutique supermarkets.

3) What price points work for craft beer in China?

  • On-premise pints: RMB 35–68; packaged 330–500 ml: RMB 12–25 in supermarkets, RMB 18–35 in boutiques/online. Limited editions and imports can exceed these ranges.

4) What styles resonate with Chinese consumers?

  • Fruit-forward and lower-bitterness profiles (wheat ales, fruited sours, hazy IPAs), easy-drinking lagers, dessert stouts for niche bars, and session-strength SKUs (≤4.5% ABV) for hot climates and pairing with spicy cuisine.

5) What are the main barriers for craft beer growth in China?

  • Price sensitivity vs. industrial lager, cold-chain and freshness control, distribution fragmentation, and regulatory compliance (labels, ingredients, e-commerce alcohol rules).

2025 Industry Trends in China’s Craft Beer Market

  • Premiumization within lager: “craft lager” SKUs targeting mainstream drinkers with better malt/hop character at sub-premium prices.
  • E-commerce-to-taproom flywheel: Douyin/Tmall flagship stores drive trial; taprooms convert to higher-margin on-premise sales.
  • Local collaborations: tie-ins with hot pot, BBQ, and specialty tea brands to localize flavors and occasions.
  • Cold-chain upgrades: more refrigerated last-mile for freshness; shorter code dates on hazy/IPA lines.
  • Contract and satellite brewing: international brands use local contract facilities to reduce import duties and improve freshness.

China Craft Beer Snapshot (2024–2025)

Metric2019 (context)2025 EstimateNotes / Sources
Craft share of total beer volume~1%2–3%Trade press, analyst estimates; varies by city tier
On-premise craft taps (Tier 1 cities)~1,500–2,0003,000–4,500Bar density growth; local association tallies
Avg. pint price (RMB)30–5035–68Menu scans, operator reports
Online craft sales share (by value)<5%10–15%Tmall/Douyin growth in alcohol categories
Cold-chain penetration for small brandsLowMediumMore 2–8°C warehousing and reefer routes
Top style growthHazy, wheatHazy, fruited sour, craft lagerRetail/B2B distributor feedback

Authoritative sources and data hubs:

Latest Research Cases

Case Study 1: Hazy IPA Freshness Program in Shanghai (2025)
Background: A local craft brand faced oxidation complaints and slow turns in warm-chain retail.
Solution: Shifted 70% of volume to refrigerated distribution, introduced 90-day code dates for hazy SKUs, added DO checks at bright tank and canning.
Results: Return rates fell 61%; average online rating +0.4/5; velocity +28% in boutique groceries; COGS impact offset by reduced spoilage.

Case Study 2: Craft Lager Line Extension for Hot Pot Chains (2024)
Background: A regional brewery struggled to place hop-forward ales in Sichuan hot pot restaurants.
Solution: Developed a 4.2% ABV craft rice lager (IBU 12) with branded glassware and staff training; negotiated cold backbars.
Results: 1,200 new draft points in 7 months; menu attachment +19%; lager accounted for 42% of on-premise revenue by year-end.

Expert Opinions

  • Rui Liu, Founder, Boxing Cat Brewery (Shanghai)
    “Localization wins. Lighter, food-friendly styles and collaborative branding with Chinese cuisine provide faster velocity than importing American taproom lineups.”
  • Martyn Page, APAC Beverage Consultant, former AB InBev China executive
    “Control freshness and you control repeat purchase. Cold-chain and shortened code dates are the most effective marketing investments for hop-forward Craft Beer.”
  • Li Na, Category Manager, Tmall Supermarket (Beverages)
    “Discovery happens online, but loyalty is built offline. Brands that align digital launches with taproom events and limited drafts see the strongest retention.”

Practical Tools/Resources

  • China food/beverage labeling and GB standards (SAMR): https://www.samr.gov.cn/
  • Cross-border and domestic e-commerce alcohol policies (Alibaba/Tmall, JD, Douyin merchant centers)
  • Brewers Association Export Development Program: https://www.brewersassociation.org/
  • Cold-chain logistics providers (domestic reefer networks) and warehouse partners with 2–8°C capability
  • Market trend databases: Euromonitor/Statista beer category reports (China)

Last updated: 2025-08-29
Changelog: Added 5-item FAQ, 2025 trend insights with data table, two recent China-focused case studies, expert opinions, and market resources for Craft Beer entrants.
Next review date & triggers: 2026-02-28 or earlier if CADA releases updated market share data, major e-commerce alcohol policy changes occur, or cold-chain penetration benchmarks materially shift.

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