Busy minds at The Brewers Association (a trade group) have revealed that craft beer retail sales were up 15% in 2011. That means around 9.1% of all beer sold was NOT Bud, Heineken, Corona, Miller, Coors — also known as the “thin and watery’s” by craft afficianados.
Also interesting is that the number of breweries operating in the U.S. reached 1,989 — that’s an 11% uptick, and cleared 2000 in 2012.
As such, Aleheads.com has labeled 2012 as the Year of Craft Beer. “Pro-Craft legislation is being pushed in many states.” For most this is great news.
We’ll be watching. And drinking.