Craft beer is declining for a number of reasons one of the bigger of these is that it is no longer new. It’s boom in the US is diminishing. Much like the 90s and single malt, the current craze for bourbon, the recent wine for heart health, etc.
Also, craft brewing and enthusiasm for craft beer is trending differently around the world. It is a newer (and robustly growing) idea in Europe, Asia, South America and elsewhere.
A brewery owner once told me that, “9 out of 10 brewery owners are more interested in good money than good beer.” So some decisions are going to be business decisions made with less thought about the way a beer tastes than the way it sells. Businesses like to establish (and follow) trends. Trends don’t generally age well and are soon labelled fads and abandoned. Then on to the next thing.
On the upside, not finding the beer you want is a recognized driver of home brewing and there is evidence that home brewing is a significant driver of craft beer. So, home brewers do have some influence but, like most, it is less than they’d prefer.
