The price of beer rose 7% in the last three months of 2022. An Elmsford brewery owner spoke to News 12 about the reason for the increase in the price and its impacts for those making the beer.
"We just got through our first week in January, and it wasn't the end of the world, people are still coming, people are still coming to see us and we're still selling beer, says Captain Lawrence Brewing Company owner Scott Vaccaro.
Vaccaro says the price of making beer has gone up due to the rising costs of just about everything for the brewery.
"From imported malt and hops to carbon dioxide, which is one of our biggest inputs to carbonate, the beer has gone up substantially and there's been shortages," he says.
Vaccaro hopes the local edge of the brewery gives him the upper hand.
"Hopefully people continue to still brew beer and support local," says Vaccaro.
The price of ingredients aren't the only costs impacting the beer industry - it's also what the beer is being put into, and these days it's aluminum cans.
"Cost of aluminum has gone up, cost of cardboard has gone up," he says.
While his brewery hasn't raised prices so far, Vaccaro says to be prepared.
"I can't imagine that's going to be able to be sustainable for much longer, we're doing our best to stay competitive in the market and doing our best to keep the cost down for our loyal customers," he says.
Even with inflation, he's optimistic he'll be able to keep clientele happy in 2023.
Typically, January and February find less beer consumption, but Vaccaro says it usually ramps up with the Super Bowl in February and preceding Saint Patrick's Day in March.