Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

Socialize

American Breweries Top 2,500

By

ba
Late last week, the Brewers Association announced that the number of breweries in the United States had eclipsed 2,500. As of May 31, brewery detective Erin Fay Glass put the number of breweries in America at 2,514, which is 767 more than there were on the same date two years ago.

More from the press release:

The list includes 24 breweries we code as “large” in our database for A-B, MillerCoors and breweries named for brands of Goose Island (packaging brewery), Leinenkugel’s and Blue Moon. In addition there are 109 regional breweries, 1214 microbreweries, and 1167 brewpubs.

The number of microbreweries passed the number of brewpubs in February 2013 for the first time since 1987.

Our count of breweries-in-planning is at 1559, up from 1228 a year ago. (But we did purge a couple hundred from the roles last fall and winter.)

At the current pace, the BA expects that the number of breweries should surpass 3,000 sometime in 2014. Sheesh.

beer-range

Mapping The Rise Of Craft Beer

By

maps-usa
Here’s a very cool interactive map from the New Yorker, part of their Idea of the Week for this week. Their map of the U.S. can show several different pieces of data about craft breweries and beer in the U.S., by state, and moving your mouse over each state reveals additional information. Give it a try.

Here, for example, is Total breweries. The darker the color, the more breweries.
ny-total-breweries

And here are new breweries opened in 2012.
ny-new-breweries-2012

State Beer Excise Tax Rates

By

beer-tax
Today’s infographic is a map of the State Beer Excise Tax Rates for each of the fifty states as of January 1, 2013. It was created by the Tax Foundation as one of their weekly maps. It’s just the state excise taxes brewers must pay, and doesn’t include either federal excise taxes or any local excise taxes. Tennessee has the highest state excise taxes and Wyoming has the lowest, a fact that the anti-alcohol folks like to exploit and whine about as often as they can whenever these maps show up online, never discussing context or the total taxes each state brewer pays. Not surprisingly, since oftentimes these are also referred to as sin taxes, six out of the highest ten states are in the south, with Florida at #11 and Mississippi at #13. California’s near the middle.

state-excise-taxes-2013
Click here to see the map full size.

The Top 50 Annotated 2012

By

ba
This is my seventh annual annotated list of the Top 50 so you can see who moved up and down, who was new to the list and who dropped off. So here is this year’s list again annotated with how they changed compared to last year.

  1. Anheuser-Busch InBev; #1 last seven years, no surprises
  2. MillerCoors; ditto for #2
  3. Pabst Brewing; ditto for #3
  4. D. G. Yuengling and Son; Same as last year
  5. Boston Beer Co.; Same as last year
  6. North American Breweries; 3rd year on the list, same position as last year
  7. Sierra Nevada Brewing; Same as last year
  8. New Belgium Brewing; Same as last year
  9. Craft Brewers Alliance; Same as last year
  10. Gambrinus Company; Same as last year
  11. Minhas Craft Brewery; Up 3 from #14 last year
  12. Deschutes Brewery; Down one from #11 last year
  13. Lagunitas Brewing; Up 3 from #16 last year after jumping up 10 from #26 the previous year, having been at #36 three years back
  14. Bell’s Brewery; Down 1 from #13 last year
  15. Matt Brewing; Down 3 from #12 last year
  16. Harpoon Brewery; Down 1 from #15 last year
  17. Stone Brewing; Up 1 from #18 last year
  18. Brooklyn Brewery; Up 2 from #20 last year, after jumping up 5 the year before
  19. Boulevard Brewing; Down 2 from #17 last year
  20. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery; Down 1 from last year, after being up 5, 9, 5 and 4 the four previous years
  21. Abita Brewing; Up 4 from #25 last year
  22. World Brew/Winery Exchange; Up 4 from #26 last year, after jumping up 11 the previous year
  23. Shipyard Brewing; Up 1 from last year, having moved up 4 the prior year
  24. Alaskan Brewing; Down 2 from #21 last year, their second drop in as many years
  25. August Schell Brewing; Down 2 from last year, also their second drop in as many years
  26. New Glarus Brewing; Up 2 again this year from #28 last year
  27. Long Trail Brewing; Down 5 from #22 last year
  28. Great Lakes Brewing; Down 1 from last year, after jumping up 4 the previous year
  29. Firestone Walker Brewing; Up 4 from #33 last year, after rising 3 spots the year before
  30. Anchor Brewing; Up 2 from #32 last year
  31. Rogue Ales Brewery; Up 5 from #36 last year
  32. Summit Brewing; Down 1 from #31 last year
  33. Full Sail Brewing; Down 4 from #29 last year
  34. SweetWater Brewing; Up 1 from #35 last year, having rise 3 the year before
  35. Victory Brewing; Up 4 from #39 last year
  36. Oskar Blues Brewing; Up 5 from #36 last year, having jumped up 8 the previous year
  37. Pittsburgh Brewing (fka Iron City); Down 7 from #30 last year
  38. Mendocino Brewing; Down 1 from #37 last year
  39. Cold Spring Brewing; Down 5 from #34 last year, after jumping up 13 the prior year
  40. Flying Dog Brewery; Down 2 from #38 last year
  41. Founders Brewing; Not in Top 50 last year
  42. Ninkasi Brewing; Up 2 from #44 last year
  43. CraftWorks Breweries & Restaurants (Gordon Biersch/Rock Bottom); Down 3 from #40 last year, after the two merged during 2011 and were #42 and #48 in the year before the merger
  44. Odell Brewing; Down 2 from #42 last year
  45. Bear Republic Brewing; Up 2 in their second year on the list
  46. Stevens Point Brewery; Down 3 from #43 last year
  47. Blue Point Brewing; Down 1 from #46 last year
  48. Southern Tier Brewing; Not in Top 50 last year
  49. Lost Coast Brewery; Same as last year in their second year on the list
  50. Karl Strauss Breweries; San Diego CA; Not in Top 50 last year

Not too much movement this year, except for a few small shufflings. Only three new breweries made the list; Founders, Southern Tier and Karl Strauss.

Off the list was BJs Restaurant & Brewery, Narragansett Brewing and Goose Island Beer, which had plummeted 30 from #18 the year before, after selling their production brewery to Anheuser-Busch InBev.

If you want to see the previous annotated lists for comparison, here is 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006.

Top 50 Breweries For 2012

By

ba
The Brewers Association has also just announced the top 50 breweries in the U.S. based on sales, by volume, for 2012. This includes all breweries, regardless of size or other parameters. Here is the new list:

  1. Anheuser-Busch InBev; St Louis MO
  2. MillerCoors; Chicago IL
  3. Pabst Brewing; Woodridge IL
  4. D. G. Yuengling and Son; Pottsville PA
  5. Boston Beer Co.; Boston MA
  6. North American Breweries; Rochester, NY
  7. Sierra Nevada Brewing; Chico CA
  8. New Belgium Brewing; Fort Collins CO
  9. Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc.; Portland, OR
  10. Gambrinus Company; San Antonio TX
  11. Minhas Craft Brewery; Monroe WI
  12. Deschutes Brewery; Bend OR
  13. Lagunitas Brewing; Petaluma CA
  14. Bell’s Brewery; Galesburg MI
  15. Matt Brewing; Utica NY
  16. Harpoon Brewery; Boston, MA
  17. Stone Brewing; Escondido CA
  18. Brooklyn Brewery; Brooklyn NY
  19. Boulevard Brewing; Kansas City MO
  20. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery; Miilton DE
  21. Abita Brewing; New Orleans LA
  22. World Brews/Winery Exchange; Novato CA
  23. Shipyard Brewing; Portland ME
  24. Alaskan Brewing; Juneau AK
  25. August Schell Brewing; New Ulm MN
  26. New Glarus Brewing; New Glarus WI
  27. Long Trail Brewing; Burlington VT
  28. Great Lakes Brewing; Cleveland OH
  29. Firestone Walker Brewing; Paso Robles CA
  30. Anchor Brewing; San Francisco CA
  31. Rogue Ales Brewery; Newport OR
  32. Summit Brewing; Saint Paul MN
  33. Full Sail Brewing; Hood River OR
  34. SweetWater Brewing; Atlanta GA
  35. Victory Brewing; Downington PA
  36. Oskar Blues Brewery; Longmont CO
  37. Pittsburgh Brewing; Pittsburgh PA
  38. Mendocino Brewing; Ukiah CA
  39. Cold Spring Brewing; Cold Spring MN
  40. Flying Dog Brewery; Frederick MD
  41. Founders Brewing; Grand Rapids MI
  42. Ninkasi Brewing; Eugene OR
  43. CraftWorks Breweries & Restaurants (Gordon Biersch/Rock Bottom); Chattanooga TN/Louisville KY
  44. Odell Brewing; Fort Collins CO
  45. Bear Republic Brewing; Cloverdale CA
  46. Stevens Point Brewery; Stevens Point WI
  47. Blue Point Brewing; Patchogue NY
  48. Southern Tier Brewing; Lakewood NY
  49. Lost Coast Brewery; Eureka CA
  50. Karl Strauss Breweries; San Diego CA

Here is this year’s press release.

Top 50 Craft Breweries For 2012

By

ba
The Brewers Association just announced the top 50 craft breweries in the U.S. based on sales, by volume, for 2012, which is listed below here. For the sixth year, they’ve also released a list of the top 50 breweries, which includes all breweries. Here is the new craft brewery list:

  1. Boston Beer Co.; Boston MA
  2. Sierra Nevada Brewing; Chico CA
  3. New Belgium Brewing; Fort Collins CO
  4. Gambrinus Company; San Antonio TX
  5. Deschutes Brewery; Bend OR
  6. Lagunitas Brewing; Petaluma CA
  7. Bell’s Brewery; Galesburg MI
  8. Matt Brewing; Utica NY
  9. Harpoon Brewery; Boston, MA
  10. Stone Brewing; Escondido CA
  11. Brooklyn Brewery; Brooklyn NY
  12. Boulevard Brewing; Kansas City MO
  13. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery; Milton DE
  14. Abita Brewing; New Orleans LA
  15. Shipyard Brewing; Portland ME
  16. Alaskan Brewing; Juneau AK
  17. New Glarus Brewing; New Glarus WI
  18. Long Trail Brewing; Bridgewater Corners VT
  19. Great Lakes Brewing; Cleveland OH
  20. Firestone Walker Brewing; Paso Robles CA
  21. Anchor Brewing; San Francisco CA
  22. Rogue Ales/Oregon Brewing; Newport OR
  23. Summit Brewing; Saint Paul MN
  24. Full Sail Brewing; Hood River OR
  25. Sweetwater Brewing; Atlanta GA
  26. Victory Brewing; Downingtown PA
  27. Oskar Blues Brewery; Longmont CO
  28. Cold Spring Brewing/Third Street Brewhouse; Cold Spring MN
  29. Flying Dog Brewery; Frederick MD
  30. Founders Brewing; Grand Rapids MI
  31. Ninkasi Brewing; Eugene, OR
  32. CraftWorks Breweries & Restaurants (Gordon Biersch/Rock Bottom); Chattanooga TN/Louisville KY
  33. Odell Brewing; Fort Collins CO
  34. Bear Republic Brewing; Cloverdale CA
  35. Stevens Point Brewing; Stevens Point WI
  36. Blue Point Brewing; Patchogue NY
  37. Southern Tier Brewing; Lakewood NY
  38. Lost Coast Brewery; Eureka CA
  39. Karl Strauss Breweries; San Diego CA
  40. BJs Chicago Pizza & Brewery; Huntington Beach CA
  41. Breckenridge Brewery; Denver CO
  42. North Coast Brewing; Fort Bragg CA
  43. Left Hand Brewing; Longmont CO
  44. St. Louis Brewery, Inc./Schlafly Beers; St Louis MO
  45. Saint Arnold Brewing; Houston TX
  46. Ballast Point Brewing; San Diego CA
  47. Big Sky Brewing; Missoula MT
  48. Allagash Brewing; Portland ME
  49. Uinta; Salt Lake City UT
  50. Tröegs Brewing; Hershey PA

Five breweries are new to this year’s Top 50 Craft Breweries list; Cold Spring Brewing/Third Street Brewhouse, Southern Tier Brewing, Ballast Point Brewing, Allagash and Tröegs Brewing. Here is this year’s press release.

I’ll have my annual annotated list shortly.

Craft Beer Growth Continued To Skyrocket In 2012

By

ba
Today’s infographic is a timely one, and was released just this morning. The Brewers Association today released the preliminary numbers for beer sales last year. Not surprisingly, the 2012 numbers look great, and continue the trend in recent years of forward momentum for craft beer. The big news is simple. “In a year when the total U.S. beer market grew by one percent, craft brewers saw a 15 percent rise in volume and a 17 percent increase in dollar growth.”

But here’s a bit more, from the press release:

With production at 13,235,917 barrels in 2012, craft brewers reached 6.5 percent volume of the total U.S. beer market, up from 5.7 percent the previous year. Additionally, craft dollar share of the total U.S. beer market reached 10.2 percent in 2012, as retail dollar value from craft brewers was estimated at $10.2 billion, up from $8.7 billion in 2011.

Also, the number of breweries continues to rise at an amazing pace. The surprising thing to notice is that the growth is almost entirely in production breweries, which increased 44%!

In 2012, there was an 18 percent increase in the number of U.S. operating breweries, with the total count reaching 2,403. The count includes 409 new brewery openings and only 43 closings. Small breweries created an estimated 4,857 more jobs during the year, employing 108,440 workers, compared to 103,583 the year prior.

And here’s all of that good news, distilled into a colorful infographic.

2012-growth-infographic_main

North American Guild of Beer Writers Membership Drive

By

nagbw
For the last few years, I’ve been pestering some of my colleagues that we needed to revive the long dormant Beer Writers Guild that folded a decade or so ago. Happily, people less lazy than me then took up the cause and led the charge, especially Lucy Saunders, who did much of the heavy lifting. Little by little, we’ve gotten the band back together, and have been quietly rebuilding a trade group for those of us trying to make a living writing about beer. Just by word of mouth, we’ve rounded up forty members and are hoping to increase that. Dues for the new North American Guild of Beer Writers are $45 a year for a full membership, $25 for an associate membership and we also have $100 industry memberships for “those employed by breweries, allied industries or agencies, interested in supporting the Guild and outreach to beer writers.” Full details on membership can be found on the “Join Us” page. Here’s the basic information:

We are beer writers.

Sometimes we act as evangelists, advocates and celebrators. Other times we are antagonists, agitators and truth-seekers. We are authors, writers, publicists, bloggers and columnists. We tirelessly cover the brewing industry — and those who appreciate beer — across North America.

Many of us are self-employed or do this as a side “gig” in addition to our “real jobs.” Some of us are employed by breweries, beer distributors, beer stores and restaurants. Still others are publishers and event organizers, while some work for newspapers, websites, magazines and other media outlets.

We are an all-volunteer group dedicated to elevating the level of our craft as we cover the art of brewing.

We are beer writers. We strive to promote better beer.

Won’t you please join us in bringing better beer writing to North America?

We are inspired by learning from shared experiences, and believe that an annual writers’ competition will foster awareness and appreciation of beer and brewing in North America.

If you’re trying to make a living writing about beer, or even doing it as a side gig, please consider joining us at the NAGBW. Things are just getting started, but plans are afoot to have regional get-togethers, meetings at prominent national events, like GABF and the Craft Brewers Conference, and a competition for excellence in beer writing.

Join us to share in beer education, travel, guided tastings, conferences and more. We organize an annual writers contest to encourage public appreciation of beer and brewing. In addition, we organize events to increase members’ knowledge of beer and brewing, and to sharpen their writing, reporting, design and broadcast skills. The group also supports professional standards among its members and other members of the media.

We’re looking for people who take the craft of writing seriously, and who specialize in beer, and want to learn how to be a better writer, how to get more work and also have some fun with colleagues. I’m pretty sure our get-togethers will have better beer than the average trade guild.

nagbw-logo