| Beer brewing, distribution, and sales are a huge part | | | | Federal is estimated at $6 billion. In another, smaller, |
| of the overall U.S. economy and is responsible for | | | | example, look at Florida. For the same year, 2008, |
| literally billions of dollars in wages and taxes. Beer is | | | | total economic output from beer and its related |
| so important to our national economy that the | | | | industries is pegged at $12.3 billion, total jobs at |
| Federal Government includes it in the list of products | | | | 126,000, and total taxes as $3 billion. |
| used to determine the Consumer Price Index issued | | | | Even in this uneven economy the industry continues |
| by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. | | | | to contribute greatly to our economy In 2008, the |
| Not counting the home beer brewing enthusiasts, the | | | | beer industry recorded 0.5% growth, hitting an |
| U.S. has more than 2,000 commercial beer brewers | | | | all-time record of over 213 million barrels of beer and |
| and beer importers and more than 2,800 beer | | | | little, if any, reduction from that number is expected |
| distributors to get the product to market. Brewing | | | | in 2009. |
| industry partners, the retail sellers, are also critical | | | | The U.S. consumer's interest in beers, ales, and other |
| contributors. Again not counting the home brew beer | | | | brewed beverages continues to grow. At last count |
| folks, the official beer outlet count is more than | | | | there were more than 3,500 malt beverage brands, |
| 521,000 retail beer selling establishments. This number | | | | which is more than three times the number just 10 |
| includes everything from the corner bar and local | | | | years ago. A large part of this amazing increase in |
| liquor store to the giant chain stores. | | | | brands is due to the growing popularity of local or |
| Directly and indirectly, the beer industry employs | | | | regional microbreweries and brewpubs (places that |
| approximately 1.9 million Americans, with an overall | | | | sell food and also have brew equipment on site). |
| payroll of almost $62 billion in wages and benefits. | | | | Currently there are almost five times more places |
| Further, the industry pays over $41 billion in business, | | | | brewing beer commercially than 10 years ago. |
| personal and consumption taxes, including $5.4 billion in | | | | Another important, but often overlooked, part of the |
| excise taxes and $5.7 billion in sales, gross receipts, | | | | brewing industry is the increasing number of people |
| and other taxes. What follows is a snapshot of how | | | | learning how to home brew beer themselves. These |
| beer impacts the economies of just two states. | | | | people are taking advantage of the large number of |
| First, take a look at the state of California. In 2008 | | | | available brew kits for home beer brewing as they |
| the brewing, distribution and retail sales of beer | | | | experiment to find their favorite beer recipe. Known |
| accounted for just a little more than 108,000 jobs in | | | | collectively as "craft brewers", these enthusiasts are |
| the state paying $3.6 billion in wages. The total | | | | adding their input into the overall impact of the |
| economic output of beer in the state is thought to | | | | industry on our economy by purchasing their home |
| be over $25 billion. Total taxes, local, state, and | | | | brew supplies. |
