Research and Markets has announced the addition of the Breweries & the Beer Market Market Update 2014 report to its offering.

The UK beer market is estimated to have increased in value by 1.5% in 2013, representing the third consecutive year of growth in the sector. Despite this, the total value of the market remains depressed in comparison to pre-recession levels, while volume beer sales have continued to exhibit a year-on-year decline.

The beer market is comprised of two main sectors: lager, a light-coloured, carbonated beer; and dark beer, which covers the full range ales, bitters, stouts and similar beverages. While the lager sector dominates the market, dark beer currently represents the main area of growth. With increased demand for craft beer in recent years, and the proliferation of an increasing variety of products across price-points, the dark beer market has exhibited a major resurgence in demand.

Despite the estimated value growth in the beer market, conditions remain challenging. Although the beer duty escalator, which imposed an annual increase in duty by retail price index (RPI) inflation plus 2%, has been scrapped and duty was cut in 2013 and 2014, the effect of the escalator since its introduction in 2008 has resulted in high prices in the on-trade.