Source: Curiosity Daily Craft beer, which has been very popular in recent years, seems to be selling less well now, at least according to AB InBev. Recently, AB InBev stated that over a period of more than three months, the sales growth of their craft beer division has been slowing. The third-quarter earnings report also showed that AB InBev's sales in the U.S. market declined as a result. Their CEO Carlos Brito explained: "There are only so many shelves for craft beer, and the abundance of choices can attract some consumers to other options." Today, there are indeed many craft beer brands in the United States. According to data from the Brewers Association, the number of craft beer manufacturers in the U.S. reached 4,656 in June, the highest in history. Craft beer has grown rapidly over the past few years. According to estimates by research firm Sanford C. Bernstein, by volume, craft beer accounted for only 6% of the U.S. beer market in 2009, and now it accounts for about 14%. And it may already be too much. For example, as we previously reported, because too many people have entered the industry, the production speed of hops cannot keep up with the pace of brewers' expansion, and raw material shortages have slowed the growth of craft beer production. HSBC analyst Anthony Bucalo said: "Consumers are already overwhelmed by too many choices; the industry is already overwhelmed. There are too many brands, too many styles, but not enough quality." Other brewers are also affected by intense competition. Stone Brewing, a California brand with 20 years of history, laid off 5% of its employees. Samuel Adams, one of the most famous craft beers in the U.S., saw its stock price fall 32% over the past year. For AB InBev, the slowdown in craft beer sales growth may not only be due to industry issues, but also its own problems. The growing craft beer segment is eroding the market for industrial beer. To this end, AB InBev has acquired a number of small craft brands over the past two years to ensure it does not fall behind, such as Devils Backbone Brewing, Breckenridge Brewery, and Four Peaks Brewing, making it the third-largest craft beer brewer in the U.S. Even so, this segment's sales still account for only 1% of the total sales of this huge beer group. Unlike industrial beer, which is AB InBev's most important and strongest area, craft beer has small production scale and strong regional characteristics. How to manage this 1% well remains a question. When they acquired other brands, many people worried that the products would lose their "small and beautiful" characteristics. Many craft beer brewers believe that AB InBev, or any brand they acquire, cannot make true craft beer. A previous Bloomberg report showed that 60% of Americans consider the independence of the brewer important when choosing craft beer. Obviously, AB InBev's brands do not meet this requirement.