Bart Watson, the Brewers Association Chief Economist, is one of those people who always provides some really insightful analysis into what’s happening in the beer business. And in a time when nothing is predictable, I pay particular attention to his analysis. He just released his mid-year analysis based on scan data, BA polling, and a few other sources. As you might expect, it’s a mixed bag. There’s some discouraging news about how much the business is down low double-digits. But also some encouraging news, like the fact that brewery closings haven’t increased nearly as much to date as some expected. It’s a read well worth your time.