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News
Craft beer continues to grow in US
The latest figures from the Brewers Association show that craft beer’s rise is continuing in the US with production volumes up 16% so far this year.
Production volumes of craft brews rose 16% between January and June this year when compared with the same period in 2014 from 10.6 million barrels to 12.2m.
“Industry growth is occurring in all regions and stemming from a mix of sources including various retail settings and a variety of unique brewery business models,” Bart Watson, chief economist of the Brewers Association, said in a statement.
As of 30 June there were 3,739 craft breweries operating in the US, 699 more than last year and another 1,755 are planned.
Nonetheless, with success has come a warning that quality mustn’t be allowed to suffer.
Watson continued: “The continued growth of small and independent brewers illustrates that additional market opportunities and demand are prevalent, although competition in the sector is certainly growing and the need for brewers to differentiate and produce world-class, high-quality beer is more important than ever.”
The continued growth of craft beer in the US and the rest of the world is also putting pressure on hop supplies, an issue currently being compounded by a heatwave in areas such as Washington State.