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The U.S. adds 948 new brewing permits in 2013 (and other fun stats)

February 17, 2014Keith Gribbins

active permitted breweries graph
Great graph from the Beer Institute.

The United States saw an ever-higher number of new breweries enter the market in 2013, with a record-high 3,699 active “permitted breweries” overseen by the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). An analysis by the Beer Institute showed that the majority of the 948 new permits issued in 2013 went to brewpubs. The Beer Institute analysis showed that four states account for one-third of all breweries in the United States: California, Washington, Colorado and Oregon.

“We have tracked the industry since our preceding trade association was first founded in 1862, and there’s a story in these numbers. Beer is constantly evolving in the U.S., with more small brewers than ever before, more brands being introduced by national brewers and growing interest in imports,” said Chris Thorne, vice president of communications at the Beer Institute.

The Beer Institute’s 2012 Beer Serves America study demonstrated the industry’s economic power. The study concluded that beer puts more than 2 million Americans to work, from farmers to factory workers, and brewers to bartenders. The combined economic impact of brewers, beer distributors, retailers, suppliers and other inducted industries was calculated to be $246.5 billion in 2012. The industry paid $49 billion in federal, state and local taxes that same year.

“There was a long period of consolidation in the industry, but during that same period, beer became the most popular drink in America. Thanks in great part to the small brewer tax credit, today we’re seeing more small brewers than ever before. But consumers are also increasingly less loyal to beer, and that is a challenge for every brewer of any size,” Thorne said.

Under the existing tax structure, small brewers (defined by U.S. Tax Code as those that produce up to 2 million 31-gallon barrels (bbls) per year, or the equivalent of 110 million six-packs) receive a substantial break on federal excise tax, paying only $7 per barrel on the first 60,000 bbls. The regular tax rate is $18 per bbl, which is paid by all brewers of more than 2 million bbls, all beer importers regardless of size, and on every barrel produced by small brewers beyond 60,000. More than 90 percent of permitted breweries today produce less than 60,000 bbls annually.

Editor’s Note: The Beer Institute requests active permitted brewery data once per year from the TTB. Permit counts are different from brewer counts as some brewers own more than one brewery, while other brewers share breweries. Relevant table and graph included below.

active permitted breweries graph
The Beer Institute analysis showed that four states account for one-third of all breweries in the United States: California, Washington, Colorado and Oregon.
Beer Institute releases November 2022 domestic tax paid estimate
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Hot damn, Beer Institute releases July 2022 domestic tax paid estimate
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Share your favorite beer-related memories on the Beer Institute’s Building Bridges with Beer page (um, the positive ones)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. GravityBrewlab says

    February 20, 2014 at 1:10 pm

    The U.S. adds 948 new brewing permits in 2013 (and other fun stats) http://t.co/QdyVC03ujc via @CraftBrewingBiz #craftbeer #breweries

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  2. drmskc_girlmuse says

    February 19, 2014 at 10:28 pm

    RT @PourMeABeer: The U.S. adds 948 new brewery permits in 2013; how many are near you? http://t.co/TzDY2CFr9N #craftbeer #beer

    Log in to Reply
  3. BavarianAF says

    February 19, 2014 at 10:23 pm

    The beat goes on…… http://t.co/pXiUWQRzoa

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  4. designbyjm says

    February 19, 2014 at 9:30 pm

    RT @PourMeABeer: Next time you grab a pint glass of your favorite #craftbeer, think of these numbers created by… http://t.co/9au06L3KrI

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  5. PourMeABeer says

    February 19, 2014 at 7:30 pm

    The U.S. adds 948 new brewery permits in 2013; how many are near you? http://t.co/TzDY2CFr9N #craftbeer #beer

    Log in to Reply
  6. PourMeABeer says

    February 19, 2014 at 6:50 pm

    Next time you grab a pint glass, bottle or can of your favorite #craftbeer, think of these numbers created by… http://t.co/htbL7fKZ8x

    Log in to Reply
  7. WLRCorey says

    February 17, 2014 at 6:05 pm

    RT @CollinMcDonnell: “4 states account for one-third of all breweries in the United States: California, Washington, Colorado and Oregon.” h…

    Log in to Reply
  8. HookedOnHops says

    February 17, 2014 at 5:01 pm

    RT @CollinMcDonnell: “4 states account for one-third of all breweries in the United States: California, Washington, Colorado and Oregon.” h…

    Log in to Reply
  9. crsimp01 says

    February 17, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    The U.S. adds 948 new brewing permits in 2013 (and other fun stats) http://t.co/8iTSLwspLp via @craftbrewingbiz

    Log in to Reply
  10. CityTavernDTLA says

    February 17, 2014 at 2:48 pm

    RT @CityTavernCC: The U.S. adds 948 new brewing permits in 2013 (and other fun stats). http://t.co/lwS1Wqh8UT

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  11. CityTavernCC says

    February 17, 2014 at 2:48 pm

    The U.S. adds 948 new brewing permits in 2013 (and other fun stats). http://t.co/lwS1Wqh8UT

    Log in to Reply
  12. HopJohnson says

    February 17, 2014 at 2:15 pm

    The U.S. adds 948 new brewing permits in 2013. 145 in California alone! http://t.co/yBVYP7my5K #craftbeer

    Log in to Reply
  13. stanchionpoint says

    February 17, 2014 at 1:02 pm

    The U.S. adds 948 new brewing permits in 2013 http://t.co/xN4YpP1mt3

    Log in to Reply
  14. Vernasta says

    February 17, 2014 at 12:57 pm

    RT @CollinMcDonnell: “4 states account for one-third of all breweries in the United States: California, Washington, Colorado and Oregon.” h…

    Log in to Reply
  15. ryantambo says

    February 17, 2014 at 12:36 pm

    RT @CollinMcDonnell: “4 states account for one-third of all breweries in the United States: California, Washington, Colorado and Oregon.” h…

    Log in to Reply
  16. Matty Hargrove says

    February 17, 2014 at 12:29 pm

    Matty Hargrove liked this on Facebook.

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  17. Michael Nikkel says

    February 17, 2014 at 12:29 pm

    Michael Nikkel liked this on Facebook.

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  18. BitchinBarrels says

    February 17, 2014 at 12:09 pm

    RT @CollinMcDonnell: “4 states account for one-third of all breweries in the United States: California, Washington, Colorado and Oregon.” h…

    Log in to Reply
  19. CollinMcDonnell says

    February 17, 2014 at 12:04 pm

    “4 states account for one-third of all breweries in the United States: California, Washington, Colorado and Oregon.” http://t.co/2WKMCHB51G

    Log in to Reply
  20. ZSpedden says

    February 17, 2014 at 11:39 am

    The U.S. adds 948 new brewing permits in 2013 (and other fun stats) http://t.co/BOHtTvRZBD

    Log in to Reply
  21. montanabrewers says

    February 17, 2014 at 11:18 am

    RT @CraftBrewingBiz: The U.S. adds 948 new brewing permits in 2013 (and other fun stats): Great info @beerinstitute http://t.co/qsS4SkU1nx

    Log in to Reply
  22. BenMeyers37 says

    February 17, 2014 at 11:09 am

    US adds 948 breweries in 2013, NY adds 45: http://t.co/OKZONu75ge

    Log in to Reply
  23. AdvancedLabels says

    February 17, 2014 at 11:00 am

    RT @CraftBrewingBiz: The U.S. adds 948 new brewing permits in 2013 (and other fun stats): Great info @beerinstitute http://t.co/qsS4SkU1nx

    Log in to Reply
  24. Tyler Reeder says

    February 17, 2014 at 10:59 am

    Tyler Reeder liked this on Facebook.

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Trackbacks

  1. Craft beer is more than a trend, it’s a craft | Digital Migrant says:
    February 20, 2014 at 8:42 am

    […] creativity (though sales options are still lagging). In the US, craft beer’s market share continues to grow even when overall beer consumption is down. Heck, even Belgian companies have bought into the North […]

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