Craft Brewing Facts
- Craft brewers currently provide an estimated 103,585 jobs in the U.S., including serving staff in brewpubs.
- Growth of the craft brewing industry in 2011 was 13% by volume and 15% by dollars compared to growth in 2010 of 12% by volume and 15% by dollars.
- Craft brewers sold an estimated 11,468,152 barrels* of beer in 2011, up from 10,133,571 in 2010.
- The craft brewing sales share in 2011 was 5.7% by volume and 9.1% by dollars.
- Craft brewer retail dollar value in 2011 was an estimated $8.7 billion, up from $7.6 billion in 2010.
- As of March 26, 2012, the Brewers Association is aware of 250 brewery openings in 2011 (174 microbreweries and 76 brewpubs) and 37 brewery closings (12 microbreweries and 25 brewpubs).
- 1,940 craft breweries operated for some or all of 2011, comprised of 1,063 brewpubs, 789 microbreweries and 88 regional craft breweries.
Other U.S. Brewing Industry Facts
- Overall U.S. beer sales were down an estimated 1.3% by volume in 2011, 1.2% in 2010.
- Imported beer sales were up 1% in 2011 and up 5% in 2010.
- Overall U.S. beer sales were approximately 199,937,239 barrels and imported beer sales were 27,238,339 barrels in 2010.
- 1,989 total breweries operated for some or all of 2011, the highest total since the 1880s.
* 1 barrel = 31 US gallons
Last updated on 3/26/2012
