Craft beer contributed $67.8 billion to the U.S. economy in 2016. That’s a 21.7 percent increase from 2014. Amazing.
The Brewers Association (BA) — the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers — yesterday released its 2016 Economic Impact Report, a biennial analysis featuring economic data of craft brewing for all 50 states across the United States, the largest and most comprehensive state-by-state report of its kind.
Contributing $67.8 billion to the U.S. economy in 2016, a 21.7 percent increase from 2014, the data underscores that small and independent craft brewers continue to grow as a powerful economic engine that contributes to businesses and healthy communities in each and every state. The figure is derived from the total impact of beer brewed by craft brewers as it moves through the three-tier system (breweries, wholesalers and retailers), as well as all non-beer products that brewpub restaurants and brewery taprooms sell.
Craft brewers were also responsible for more than 456,373 full-time equivalent jobs, a 7.5 percent increase from 2014, with 128,768 jobs directly at breweries and brewpubs, including serving staff at brewpubs.
In addition to the national impact, the BA examined output of by state:
Top Five States (2016)
| State | 2016 Output |
| California | $7,344,502,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $5,787,811,000 |
| Texas | $4,539,628,000 |
| New York
Florida |
$3,439,441,000
$3,074,261,000 |
For additional study statistics and methodology, including state-by-state data, see the economic impact page on the Brewers Association website.
