Record Number of U.S. Breweries

The number of breweries in the United States is at an all-time high. At the end of last year the brewery count reached 4,144, compared to the previous historic high of 4,131 in 1873, according to the Brewers Association.

• Brewery openings now exceed two a day.
• Fifteen states are now home to more than 100 breweries: California, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Texas, Ohio, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Indiana.
• IPA remained the top style sold by independent craft brewers, and continues to grow faster than the overall craft category.
• Data shows that “locally made” is important to over half of craft beer buyers.
• Similarly, knowing that the beer is made by a small and independent brewery is important to a majority of craft drinkers in their purchase decision.