Craft beer a $6bn California industry

The craft beer industry in California is now worth just over US$6 billion according to the California Craft Brewers Association.

According to the trade body the industry in the state is not only “thriving” but also “growing”, with the number of fully operating breweries increasing by over 20% last year to 554 – providing 48,000 jobs.

Contributing $6.5bn to the Californian economy in 2014, the economic impact of craft brewing grew 18% last year, partly thanks to exporting 1.3m barrels worth of beer around the world.

California also produces the most craft beer of any state in the union, 3.5m barrels, in fact it is now exporting more craft beer than most states even produce.

As well as having 12 of the top 50 largest craft breweries by volume in the US, a further 240 breweries are currently in the planning stages.

Although this may seem excessive, as the Los Angeles Times noted, all of the craft beer split between the “huge” population of California only allows for about 13 pints per person.

Whereas, up in Oregon where the population is one-tenth that of the Golden State the 1.6m barrel production allows for about 100 pints per person.