It turns out the decline in craft beer impacts more than just the beverage makers themselves. In shocking news, three of the top providers of craft beer equipment, Deutsche Beverage + Process, Ss Brewtech and Wild Goose Filling, have all collectively shut down. They all do so at the same time as a result of their parent company, Middleby Brewing + Distilling, deciding to step away from the craft beer space.
In a press release Middleby announced “that it will discontinue its Middleby Brewing & Distilling Solutions Group business (“Brewing Group”), which includes its Deutsche Beverage + Process, Ss Brewtech and Wild Goose Filling brands, with the wind-down expected to be substantially complete by the end of this year.”
They go on to say that “the decision is a result of the company’s ongoing focus on operational excellence and business simplification initiatives, in which management evaluates each business against its long-term growth and margin potential and directs capital accordingly. This discipline is intended to support both organic net sales growth and margin expansion over time.”
In a corresponding move all three companies posted a release to their website. Each read very similar by saying “unfortunately, we do not see a rapid recovery in the market or conditions that would support a return to sustainable operations in the foreseeable future. After careful consideration of these factors and the outlook ahead, we have made the difficult decision to cease operations.”
The decision by Middleby to step away from the equipment market reflects a broader, ongoing contraction within the craft beverage landscape. According to the Brewers Association’s 2026 Midyear Report, craft beer production volume fell an estimated 4% in the first six months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, while total operating breweries decreased to 9,344—a 1.8% drop year-over-year as closures continued to outpace new openings.
Retail data paints an even tougher picture, with off-premise craft sales dropping 5.2% during the first half of 2026, driven by persistent inflationary pressures on raw materials, shifting consumer preferences toward non-alcoholic options, and tightening discretionary spend (NielsenIQ via Brewers Association). This persistent market squeeze has drastically reduced capital expenditure across the sector: with microbreweries operating on razor-thin margins and fewer new venues opening, the demand for capital-intensive hardware like turnkey brewhouses and canning lines has sharply diminished, forcing major equipment suppliers to re-evaluate the viability of serving the space.
There is no telling the impact this will have on the industry. While SS Brewtech is commonly known within the homebrew craft scene, they did have a hand in supporting commercial breweries as well. Focusing on smaller to medium sized systems. While Deutsche Beverage and Wild Goose Filling could be found in almost every craft brewery you walked into. There are other options for craft breweries to find equipment, but these three played a key role in the market and their departure is sure to have a lasting impact.
