U.S. Breweries Hit New Milestone

In case you’re looking for non-political news, we have some big beer news for you: U.S. craft breweries have officially shattered another milestone.

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As of the end of October 2018, the number of active breweries in the U.S. officially surpassed 7,000.

(MORE: Seek the Independent Craft Brewer Seal)

That stat is according to the Brewers Association (BA), publishers of CraftBeer.com. BA Chief Economist Bart Watson shares with us there were 7,082 active breweries in the U.S. as of Oct. 31. That’s 1,100 more breweries than at the same time in 2017.

That’s right: more than 7,000 breweries — and most of them small and independent — exist right now in the U.S. It’s hard to believe it was only about three years ago — 2015 — when the number of breweries first surpassed an all-time high.

And Bart says more are on the way. There are 2,000-plus craft breweries at the “in-planning” status, according to the BA.

(READ: 2018’s Great American Beer Bars)

Cheers to choice, American small business success stories and more flavor — three things we love about craft beer. If the news has you wanting to head to a brewery to celebrate, check out the CraftBeer.com Brewery Finder to locate the one closest to you.

Jess Baker

Jess Baker walked into a beer fest in 2010 and realized beer had come a long way from what her dad had been drinking since the 70s. She served as editor-in-chief of CraftBeer.com from spring 2016 to spring 2020, bringing you stories about the people who are the heartbeat behind U.S. craft brewing. She's a runner, a die-hard Springsteen fan, a mom who is always scouting family-friendly breweries, and always in search of a darn good porter.

CraftBeer.com is fully dedicated to small and independent U.S. breweries. We are published by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers. Stories and opinions shared on CraftBeer.com do not imply endorsement by or positions taken by the Brewers Association or its members.