2007 Another Banner Year For Craft Beer

The Brewers Association in Boulder, Colorado today released the preliminary numbers for beer sales in 2007. Craft beer is again showing double digit growth for, I believe, the fourth consecutive year. Craft beer growth was 12% last year, as compared to 1.4% for imported beer and 1.4% for non-craft beer, primarily the major domestic beer companies. The craft beer industry eclipsed 8 million barrels of craft beer produced for the first time last year, as sales grew to 3.8% by volume and 5.9% by dollars. But perhaps the most impressive statistic is that the microbrewery segment (defined as a brewery that produces less than 15,000 barrels per year) grew a staggering 21% in 2007.

From the press release:

In what has become a true American success story, the craft beer market again grew by double digits in 2007, leading all other segments in the beer category. The Brewers Association reports estimated sales by independent craft brewers up 12 percent by volume and 16 percent in dollars for 2007. Craft brewers’ share of the beer category is 3.8 percent of production and 5.9 percent of retail sales.

The Brewers Association annually polls the country’s craft brewers to estimate the total volume of beer sold by brewpubs, microbreweries, and regional craft breweries in the United States, and uses scan data to estimate sales. Results show that the U.S. had 1,449 total breweries in operation in the U.S. during 2007, including 1,406 small, independent, and traditional craft brewers. Nearly 70 percent of craft breweries are brewpubs that sell most or all of their beer on-premises.

“Since 2004, dollar sales by craft brewers have increased 58 percent,” said Paul Gatza, Director of the Brewers Association. “The strength of this correlates with the American trend of buying local products and a preference for more flavorful foods and beers.”

The Brewers Association estimates the actual dollar sales figures from craft brewers at more than $5.74 billion, up from $4.95 billion in 2006. Sales in barrels equaled 8,011,141 (one barrel is 31 U.S. gallons) up from 7,147,050 barrels in 2006. The 2007 increase totals 864,091 barrels, which is the equivalent of 11.9 million cases or 285 million 12-ounce bottles of beer.

Using the recently redone definition of craft breweries, below is the breakdown of American breweries currently operating.