Like many major industries, and indeed life in general, 2020 was a challenging year for craft brewers. According to a recently published Brewers Association (BA) report, craft beer production dropped 9 percent last year — the biggest decline the industry has seen in the modern era.
That statistic is not a result of widespread brewery closures, as you might rightfully presume. While we sadly saw 346 breweries close up shop, more than 700 new producers opened for business in 2020, taking the total number of operational U.S. craft breweries to a record high 8,764.
Using further data published by the BA, we explored what that figure looks like on a state-by-state level, mapping the number of breweries operating in each territory and the concentration of producers on a per-capita basis. (The BA calculates the latter on the number of breweries per 100,000 adults over the age of 21.)
Want to find out if you’re living in a craft brewery haven or need to consider packing your bags and hiring a U-Haul? Check out our maps below.
This story is a part of VP Pro, our free platform and newsletter for drinks industry professionals, covering wine, beer, liquor, and beyond. Sign up for VP Pro now!
