What is the Forecast for Craft Breweries?

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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