2006 Craft Beer Industry Statistics
(click here to download a PDF of the Craft Beer Fact Sheet)
Growth of the craft beer industry was 12% by volume for 2006.

The craft beer industry eclipsed 6.7 million barrels of craft beer produced in the U.S. in 2005.

The fastest growing craft beer sector in 2006 was microbreweries (up 16%), showing customer support for local breweries.

Craft beer sales share is 3.20% by volume and 4.99% by dollars.

Craft beer industry sales have grown 31.5% over the last 3 years.

Total U.S. Craft Beer Industry Annual Dollar Volume: $4.7 billion.

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Craft Beer Stats 2006 vs. 2005

U.S. Breweries Operating in 2006:
50 Regional Craft Breweries
365 Microbreweries
981 Brewpubs
1,396 Total Craft Breweries

20 Large Breweries
24 Regional Breweries
4 Other Non-craft Breweries

1,444 Total U.S. Breweries

U.S. Breweries Operating in 2005:
48 Regional Craft Breweries
380 Microbreweries
979 Brewpubs
1,407 Total Craft Breweries

18 Large Breweries
23 Regional Breweries

1,448 Total U.S. Breweries
2006 U.S. Openings:
60 Brewpubs
33  Microbreweries

2006 U.S. Closings:
35 Brewpubs
13 Microbreweries		 2005 U.S. Openings:
42 Brewpubs
24  Microbreweries

2005 U.S. Closings:
58 Brewpubs
8 Microbreweries


The 2006 craft beer industry production volume breaks down into:
Regional craft breweries 4,287,708 bbl up 15%
Contract brewing companies 849,002 bbl down 1%
Microbreweries 812,790 up 17%
Brewpubs 704,203 up 5%

 
2006
2005
Domestic Craft Beer Production in barrels
6,653,703
5,956,124