Earlier this month the Brewers Association released the good news that Craft Beer Grows 14% In First Half Of 2012. That was through the end of June. I hate to keep crowing about the numbers, but it’s hard to ignore, especially having lived through the depressing late 90s when optimism for craft beer was at its nadir. Anyway, here’s where we are just a month later, as of July 31 of this year.

• U.S. operating breweries is at 2,142, up from 2,126 at the end of June.
• U.S. breweries in planning is at 1,303, up from 1,252 at the end of June.
• There are 555 more breweries in planning than a year ago and 347 more operating U.S. breweries.

Crazy times.