Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Homebrewing Finally Legal In All 50 States

By

aha-new
As Mississippi’s ban on homebrewing was lifted today, for the first time since Prohibition made brewing illegal in 1919, homebrewing is finally allowed in all fifty states. My only comment is it’s about damn time. That a supposed clerical error — a typo — made home winemaking legal after prohibition ended while keeping homebrewing illegal is the biggest anti-alcohol bullshit move of all-time, especially when you consider it took a full seventy years to correct that “typo,” at least for all states. The American Homebrewers Association released a statement this morning, as did the Brewers Association:

Unifying the United States homebrew community has long been an aspiration of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA), and we are proud to announce this goal has been achieved with the help of countless dedicated homebrewers and AHA members like you. July 1, 2013 marks the day Mississippi lifts its homebrew restriction, unifying homebrewers in all fifty states for the first time since before prohibition.

Beer history in the United States region predates the very existence of the country as we know it. Native peoples of the Western Hemisphere produced a watery maize-beer, a pre-cursor to modern American adjunct beer, and as the earliest explorers settled down in the New World, America’s contemporary brewing culture was born.

“From our nation’s founders to our current President, this country has a long and storied tradition of homebrewing,” said AHA director Gary Glass.

Even after prohibition was eradicated with the implementation of the 21st Amendment in 1933, homebrewers would still be criminals in the eyes of the federal law for over four-and-a-half decades. President Jimmy Carter signed a bill that went into effect on February 1, 1979 federally legalizing homebrewing, but it remained up to each state to determine their individual alcohol policies, including home beer production. Over the course of the next forty-six years, states adopted legislation, permitting the making of beer at home.

It’s terrific news that finally homebrewing is permitted in every state. It’s been a long time coming.

ask-me-homebrew

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

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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

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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