Craft Beer Sales Still Increasing

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Aug 3, 2010 5:20PM

Sales of craft beer are proving to be recession-proof. According to the Brewers Association, both volume and dollar sales of craft beer increased in the first half of 2010 versus the same time frame last year. Volume sales increased by 9 percent while dollar sales increased by 12 percent.

These numbers are encouraging, as the craft beer growth is happening even as overall beer sales decreased by nearly 3 percent the the first half of 2010. “There is a movement by beer lovers to the innovative and flavorful beers created by America’s small and independent craft brewers," said Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association. "More people are starting to think of craft-brewed beer first when they buy in restaurants, bars and stores.”

The numbers also reinforce the trend of craft beer growth versus overall beer sales in recent years. In other craft beer news, the total number of breweries in the US has increased to 1,624, and increase of 100 in the twelve-month period from July 2009 to now.