If it seems like there’s a new brewery popping up every day, it’s because there is. The number of breweries in America is now at 2,538, and it’s only going to keep growing.
446 breweries have been added since June 2012, which is an increase of over 20%. That’s incredible growth. There are also another 1,605 breweries in planning, so don’t expect it to slow down any time soon. Not all of those will come to fruition and some current business will shut down, but the trend is your friend if you’re a beer lover.
A big part of what’s pushing the movement is head brewers leaving to create their own brewery. With business booming, why toil away working for someone else when you get live the American dream and start your own? Eventually we will run out of shelf space, but for now just enjoy the ride.
And what a ride it is. Beer sales overall are down 2% in the first 6 months of the year. Meanwhile, craft beer sales are up 15%. It’s clear that preferences are changing, albeit slowly, especially as Brewers start to create more craft beers that are full flavor without having to be 9% ABV.