Lake Michigan port nearly breaks record because of craft beer

cargo ship shipping water — This is truly shipping beer.

The snowball effect of the craft beer industry continues to add jobs, increase commerce and generate a sizable buzz in the U.S. economy. Its revenue generation and spending are even starting to affect other industries like basic U.S. infrastructure. Take shipping and ports, for instance. According to an article on Northwest Indiana Times.com (a Times Media Co. news and information leader in [you guessed it] Northwest Indiana), the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor almost broke its record for volume in 2015 — partly because of brewing vessels going to local craft breweries.

“The port has received multiple shipments for regional breweries in recent years, including 36 beer fermentation tanks in 2015,” Port Director Rick Heimann said. “Many of these are 20,000 gallon tanks or larger.”

According to the article, the deep water port on Lake Michigan handled 2.8 million tons of cargo, the second highest tonnage since 1994. That’s only the third time in the 45-year history of the port that it’s handled 2.8 million tons. Local brewing in Chicago and surrounding Michigan was largely noted for that increase in said tonnage. It’s just another economic success story that highlights how craft beer is doing its part of keep American commerce growing and happy. Sounds like another nugget to mention in your marketing plan. It actually makes us want to get into shipping. From the article:

Lagunitas Brewing Co., one of the largest craft breweries in the United States, got 20 more tanks through the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor from Europe in 2015 after receiving 29 in 2014. The port also received 12 brewery tanks for Bells Brewery in Michigan and four for Revolution Brewery in Chicago.