BeerAdvocate Shuts Down Print Magazine

BeerAdvocate has announced that it has canceled its print magazine after 11 years of publishing. Debuting in 2007, the magazine was produced monthly until last year when it attempted to transition to quarterly. The last print edition of BeerAdvocate, Issue 133, released in the summer of 2018.

BeerAdvocate magazine joins DRAFT Magazine and All About Beer Magazine as beer publications that have folded over the past three years.

Similarly, in 2015, The Beer Connoisseur canceled its bi-monthly print magazine then transitioned to a premium web magazine before adding its new annual print edition this year.

On April 3, 2019, BeerAdvocate sent an email to its subscribers explaining the reason for the cancelation:

"It's no secret that the media world has experienced rapid change over the last few years. The truth is the media landscape has long been defined by change, including the niche occupied by beer periodicals like our own BeerAdvocate magazine. And change, while painful at times, can often be a positive. As with many businesses, that quick pace of change creates risk. In January 2018, we changed the format and frequency of our magazine from a 72-page monthly to a 112-page quarterly. There were a number of sound reasons for the switch, and we were optimistic at the time about the future of our print publication, which has featured award-winning writing and beautiful art and photography over the course of its history. But the frequency and format change was not enough to overcome some of the larger trends in the market, and as you have undoubtedly noticed by now, we unfortunately weren't able to fulfill our subscription obligations last year. So, as much as it pains us to make this announcement, we've decided that the best course of action is to discontinue the print edition of BeerAdvocate magazine."

Founded in 1996 by Jason and Todd Alström, "BeerAdvocate (BA) is an independent community of enthusiasts and professionals dedicated to supporting and promoting better beer," according to BA's website. The site "remains solely owned and operated by Jason and Todd Alström, with awesome support from their team of co-workers and volunteer staff." 

One of the major focuses of BA has been beer festivals, which is expected to continue despite the end of its print magazine. According to the site, "since the Art of Beer Festival in 2003, BeerAdvocate has continued to organize popular festivals and events every year. From social gatherings to charity fundraisers, online tastings to larger ticketed festivals, BA events provide the beer community numerous opportunities to sample, socialize, and learn more about beer while directly supporting the industry."

The end of BeerAdvocate's print magazine marks a significant turning point for beer media in the United States. There now exist no independent, consumer-focused magazines in print for the beer industry. While Craft Beer & Brewing, Brew Your Own and Zymurgy are still publishing print magazines, those publications are primarily focused on homebrewing rather than the industry at large.

Though BeerAdvocate is ending its print magazine, the site is extending a free one-year membership to subscribers to its Respect Beer Society, "which entitles users to more than a dozen awesome perks, from beta testing our app, to discounts, advertising-free browsing, extended users stats, and much more."

Furthermore, BeerAdvocate magazine Issue 134 will be made available to subscribers as a PDF in April. For those that are still owed BA magazine copies past Issue 134, Craft Beer & Brewing will fulfill those subscriptions.

Photo Courtesy BeerAdvocate