USA Micro Craft Beer Breweries Continue to Grow

Not since the thirteen dry years of prohibition has the USA witnessed more regional breweries.  In 1978 the USA had only 48 operating breweries;  it was about this time that several innovative home brewers began to expand outside their basements and introduced America to ‘Craft Brewers’. By last year, 2010, the Brewer’s Association confirmed nearly 1800 breweries, and almost 600 in planning.  The specifics of the survey included 1,033 brewpubs, 603 operating microbreweries (under 6Million barrels/year) , and 80 regional (larger) breweries. Although it is true that several breweries shut down each year (generally due to poor management, not quality of beer); however, many new breweries continue to open.

The demand for craft brewed beer also continues to grow, despite a declining overall American beer demand.  In fact, to compliment the newly formed breweries, many of the current operators have raised enough funding to expand their respect capacities to keep up with demand.  The Brewer’s Association reported that overall beer consumption (by volume) declined by nearly 1% in 2010, yet the craft beer segment increased by over 11 percent.  The craft beer market share is now exceeding 5%, while the larger macro operators (ABInBev, SABMiller, etc) as well as imports make up the remaining 95%.  Some predict, the craft beer portion could go to 10% of the market within 5 more years.

 The micro beer brewers are estimating that this robust, double digit,  growth will continue for several more years, than grow at a more modest rate.