US Brewery Count Reaches All-Time High

Statistics released today by the Brewers Association have shown a historic high for the number of breweries in America with 4,656. This is an increase of 917 breweries since last year, and despite the already impressive growth, this number portends an even greater increase in the coming months with over 2,200 breweries still in the planning stages.

"While the craft brewing industry is entering a period of maturation, most markets are not near saturation," said Bart Watson, chief economist of the BA, in a press release. "As craft's base gets larger, as with any industry, it becomes more difficult for it to grow at the same percentage rate. Yet there is still tremendous dynamism reflected in eight percent growth for craft. Production growth of small and independent craft brewers continues to be one of the main bright spots for domestic beer in the U.S. Even in a more competitive market, for the vast majority of small and independent brewers, opportunities still exist."

Here is a short video from the BA outlining craft beer's growth over the past year: