I also think product has suffered.
I seem to remember more interesting and very good beers available.
Like, where did all the fabulous Gose varieties go?
It seems like everything available today is a hazy IPA or a basic lager. There used to be such a breadth of flavors.
The other child comments about GLP-1 is also correct. That also seems to be a source of the protein craze going on right now.
The average person is pretty clueless about diet and their doctor told them to get XX grams of protein per meal, and fast food cafes and establishments adapted to those dietary instructions.
Also, the brewpub culture is becoming TGI Fridays-ified.
TGI Friday’s was a trendy singles bar for boomers at the time, now it’s a watered down boring family restaurant, just like many craft breweries which are stroller-fests.
I don’t even know what Gen Alpha/younger Gen Z is up to. Staying inside online? Maybe going more out to party oriented clubs rather than mellow brewpubs?
Finally, anyone into indie beers knows that brewdog has been corporate suckage for years.