2015 Was Another Historically Great Year For Craft Beer: New Statistics

The Brewers’ Association, the trade guild that represents small and independent breweries—those of which less than 25 percent is owned or controlled by big beer—released statistics on last year’s craft beer sales in the United States, and once again, they reached new record highs. The country’s 4,269 craft breweries produced 24.5 million barrels of beer in 2015, representing a full 12.2% of the American beer market, up from last year’s 11%. That beer sold for a total of $22.3 billion, up 16% from craft beer’s 2014 dollar share and accounting for slightly more than one-fifth of all American beer revenue.

The continuous growth in craft beer has also generated jobs, with more than 121,000 people working in the industry—a 5.5% increase from last year—and a net growth of 552 new craft breweries nationwide.

This, of course, is excellent news for beer aficionados who can’t help but laugh at the atrocious, defensive ads that companies like Budweiser have created to protect their shrinking turf. You can read about the methodology behind the Brewers’ Association’s report here.