Below you will find the Brewers Association’s takes on 2016 as released yesterday, plus WC commentary for local readers.
Brewery Count: Five thousand strong and growing, there are now 5,005 breweries in the U.S. compared to 10,000 wineries. Almost all (99%) are small and independent craft brewers.
— Local Take: San Diego is now home to more than 130 breweries. When West Coaster got started just over six years ago, there were around 30.
Continued Growth for the Segment: By mid-year, small and independent breweries grew by eight percent, reflecting dynamism and a bright spot for the domestic beer market.
— Local Take: Companies like Belching Beaver keep expanding; since 2012 they have opened 5 locations and are hoping to add 3 more in 2017. Production-wise, the company has grown from 1,200 barrels produced in year one to a projection of 30-40k in 2017.
Never Go Out of Styles: IPAs continue to hop up, now accounting for roughly one-quarter of craft volume. More sessionable styles, including golden ales, pilseners and pale lagers, are up 33 percent, totaling nearly five percent of craft.
— Local Take: SD County is home to more than a dozen hop farms, while San Diego Beer Week saw more than two dozen events geared specifically to hop heads.
Freedom of Choice: As the world’s two largest brewers merged into a multinational conglomerate two and a half times the size of the U.S. beer market, the BA was at the center of the discussion, advocating for fair competition for the nation’s small and independent craft brewers and access to market ensuring beer enthusiasts get to continue to choose from a vast variety of options. Approximately 65 percent of craft beer lovers said they are drinking more craft specifically because it offers more variety.
— Local Take: 2016’s reader poll – open until December 31 – already shows more than 150 different beers for the category Best San Diego Beer. Meanwhile, ABI-owned 10 Barrel is planning to open its East Village brewpub in early 2017.
Homebrewing Impact: The National Homebrew Competition continues to be the world’s largest beer competition with 7,962 entries. A recent measurement of homebrewing found that its 1.2 million participants created over 11,000 jobs, resulting in more than $1 billion in spending and over $700 million in revenues.
— Local Take: Look no further than QUAFF’s winning of Homebrew Club of the Year at June’s Homebrew Con, and club member Nick Corona’s taking home the title of Homebrewer of the Year.
Beer Destinations: Recognizing a rising interest in beer tourism, Travelocity enlisted the expertise of the BA to find the country’s best beer destinations and create the very first Beer Tourism Index. Additionally, the American Homebrewers Association (AHA)—the leading community for homebrewers—unveiled a list of cities across the U.S. where homebrewing is on the rise.
— Local Take: Left off both lists, San Diegans are petulantly shutting down their breweries and quitting homebrewing altogether.
American Craft Beer Abounds Abroad: Craft beer export volume increased by 16.3 percent, totaling 446,151 barrels and worth $116 million. More than 100 small and independent craft brewers export their beer internationally, spreading the culture and community of craft beer and a growing recognition and respect for American brewers.
— Local Take: Rough Draft recently won $35,000 from MetroConnect, an export assistance program that’s part of the World Trade Center San Diego. The money will go toward future international market expansion.
Bipartisan Beer Support: With a craft brewery in nearly every congressional district in the country, more than half of the U.S. Congress now supports the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act. The BA has been a key player in moving forward this bipartisan legislation that seeks to recalibrate the current federal excise tax structure for the nation’s brewers and reform burdensome laws regulating America’s brewing industry.
— Local Take: California Senator Barbara Boxer is a co-sponsor of S. 1562, but Sen. Feinstein is not; in the House, H.R. 2903 is co-sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-49th), Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-50th), Rep. Juan Vargas (D-51st), Rep. Scott Peters (D-52nd), but not Susan Davis (R-53rd).
History Has Its Eyes on Beer: With support from the Brewers Association, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History announced that it will launch a three-year initiative to collect, document and preserve the history of brewing, craft brewers and the beer industry in America. The job posting for a Historian to study brewing history was one of the most viral beer stories of the year, an indicator of how much people care about this vital industry.
— Local Take: BEERology, San Diego Museum of Man’s exhibit on beer civilization “from hunter-gatherers to hipsters” is open until August 2017.
Perfect Pair: Beer and food continue to find harmony on plates and palates. Seventy-three percent of craft beer purchasers gave “complements my meal”as a very or somewhat important selection criteria in their beer choice when dining out. Sixty-three percent select beer based on the food item or meal they are planning to enjoy.
— Local Take: Creative chefs and talented brewers are teaming up for beer pairing events all over town, including Toronado’s acclaimed brunches. Upcoming: January 28 w/ AleSmith, February 19 w/ El Segundo, and March 5 w/ Cellarmaker.