Are you writing your business plan and trying to figure out whether a brewery is likely to be a profitable business? The forecast for craft breweries is bright. While beer sales in the US fell by 1.3% in 2011, the craft brewing industry grew 13% by volume and 15% by sales in the same period. In 2012, growth of the craft brewing industry was 15% by volume and 17% by retail dollars. The trend is strong and upward – it is a great time to be in the craft brew business. The Brewers Association reports the growing number of craft breweries in the US:
2012 US Openings | 2011 US Openings | ||
99 |
Brewpubs |
88 |
Brewpubs |
310 |
Microbreweries |
187 |
Microbreweries |
US Breweries Operating in 2012 | US Breweries Operating in 2011 | ||
97 |
Regional Craft Breweries |
89 |
Regional Craft Breweries |
1,118 |
Microbreweries |
813 |
Microbreweries |
1,132 |
Brewpubs |
1,068 |
Brewpubs |
2,347 |
Total Craft Breweries |
1,970 |
Total Craft Breweries |
23 |
Large Non-Craft Breweries |
23 |
Large Non-Craft Breweries |
33 |
Other Non-Craft Breweries |
34 |
Other Non-Craft Breweries |
2,403 |
Total US Breweries |
2,027
|
Total US Breweries |
https://www.brewersassociation.org/pages/business-tools/craft-brewing-statistics/number-of-breweries
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