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Craft beer market share hits 12 percent of total beer

March 28, 2016Chris Crowell

The Brewers Association (BA), the trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers, released 2015 data on U.S. craft brewing growth. With more breweries than even before, small and independent craft brewers now represent 12 percent market share of the overall beer industry.

In 2015, craft brewers produced 24.5 million bbls and saw a 13 percent rise in volume and a 16 percent increase in retail dollar value. Retail dollar value was estimated at $22.3 billion, representing 21 percent market share.

“For the past decade, craft brewers have charged into the market, seeing double digit growth for eight of those years,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. “There are still a lot of opportunities and areas for additional growth. An important focus will remain on quality as small and independent brewers continue to lead the local, full-flavored beer movement.”

RELATED: Why Blue Moon’s new marketing campaign helps the craft beer industry

craft beer growth numbers

Additionally, in 2015 the number of operating breweries in the U.S. grew 15 percent, totaling 4,269 breweries — the most at any time in American history. Small and independent breweries account for 99 percent of the breweries in operation, broken down as follows: 2,397 microbreweries, 1,650 brewpubs and 178 regional craft breweries.

Throughout the year, there were 620 new brewery openings and only 68 closings, which is an uptick from closings in prior years.

One of the fastest growing regions was the South, where four states — Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and Texas — each saw a net increase of more than 20 breweries, establishing a strong base for future growth in the region.

Combined with already existing and established breweries and brewpubs, craft brewers provided nearly 122,000 jobs, an increase of more than 6,000 from the previous year.

“Small and independent brewers are a beacon for beer and our economy,” added Watson. “As breweries continue to open and volume increases, there is a strong need for workers to fill a whole host of positions at these small and growing businesses.”

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  2. btvjim says

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  3. DrinkMRD says

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  6. Garrettlawton says

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  16. singvongsa_k says

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Trackbacks

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  2. Tapping Into $22 Billon Craft Brew Market With Design says:
    March 12, 2018 at 12:22 pm

    […] brewing is a $22.3 billion industry, according to the Brewers Association, with more than 24 million barrels of beer produced and served annually across America in 2,397 […]

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  3. Budweiser’s New Beer Cans Celebrate the States Where It’s Brewed – BTC Ethereum Crypto Currency Blog says:
    July 12, 2017 at 5:59 am

    […] have grown by as much as 20% a year over the last decade. Last year, craft brewers grabbed a 21% share of the U.S. market by dollar […]

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  4. Shouting into the Ether: My Thoughts on the Wicked Weed Acquistion – Tits Deep in Beer says:
    May 8, 2017 at 1:16 pm

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