Brewers Association Reports Mid-Year Craft Brewing Numbers

The Beer Association has mixed news; first, overall sales of beer are down in America some 1.3% beer in a mugin the first 6 months of 2009. But the news isn't all bad. The craft brewing industry grew 5% by volume during the first half of 2009, and 9% in terms of dollars. In the same time period, imported beer sales dropped 9.5%. But the really good news is that the United States Brewery count at 1, 525 breweries as of July 31, 2009, is the highest it's been in 100 years. That count includes:

That's actually promising news, as it suggests that people are buying locally made beer more and more, rather than mass-produced bulk macro beers, or higher-priced imported mass produced beers. It will be interesting to see how the recession shakes out, with smaller breweries making craft and microbrews available in the under $7.00 price range. Yes, Pabst is still cheaper for the same volume, but when larger brewers like Sam Adams are increasingly available outside of their traditional areas, and companies like Michelob and Trader Joes are jumping on the craft-brew style wagon, there's definitely a change in the beer climate.