For several years now, craft beer has been on the rise in the US, with many beer drinkers preferring regionally created products with distinctive characteristics over those made in large quantities. How many craft brewers are there in the US today, though, in 2019?
As of the end of 2018, there were 7,346 craft breweries in the US, according to the Brewers Association, a trade group that supports and defends small and independent American brewers. From 2017, when there were 6,266 craft breweries in the US, there has been a huge increase.
Despite how remarkable this expansion is, it’s crucial to remember that not all of these breweries are the same. According to the Brewers Association, a craft brewery is one that uses conventional brewing techniques, is independently owned, and produces less than 6 million barrels of beer annually. As a result, some of the bigger craft breweries, like Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Boston Beer Company, which makes Samuel Adams, produce a lot more beer than the independent, smaller craft breweries.
In what way do craft breweries set their beer prices? Prices might vary depending on a number of elements, including the price of components, production expenses, and local market competitiveness. Craft brewers often create smaller quantities of beer and rely more heavily on local distribution networks, which results in greater overhead expenses than those at larger breweries. Customers may pay a little bit more as a result, but many beer drinkers are prepared to pay more for the distinctive flavors and local experience that craft beer provides.
Beer distributors are another significant role in the craft beer market. These businesses serve as go-betweens, facilitating the distribution of craft beer to nearby bars, eateries, and shops. In most cases, distributors profit from a markup on the cost of the beer they sell as well as from fees for services like warehousing and delivery. Distributors and breweries may have a problematic relationship because some smaller breweries believe that distributors favor bigger brands over their own.
As a result, there are now more than 7,000 craft breweries operating in the US as of the end of 2018. Many consumers are drawn to the distinctive flavors and local experience that craft breweries offer, despite the fact that the cost of craft beer may be slightly more than that of mass-produced beer. Additionally, beer distributors are crucial in getting craft beer into customers’ hands, but their interactions with breweries can occasionally be difficult. Overall, the American beer culture is vibrant and dynamic thanks to the craft beer sector.