USA: Craft beer production growth up 7.1% for first half of 2005

Brewers Association of USA has recently reported that craft beer production volume increased by 7.1% for the first half of 2005 (January-June 2005). The Association is forecasting about 7 million barrels (8.21 million hl) of craft beer to be produced in the U.S. in 2005. Craft beer industry production is set to grow again in 2005 as it has every year for the last 35 straight years.

Total U.S. craft beer industry annual dollar volume for 2005 is forecast by the Brewers Association at $3.7 billion compared to $3.5 billion in 2004. 1,396 craft breweries are operating in 2005 in USA.

Craft beer is the fastest growing segment of the beverage alcohol industry in the US. Craft beer growth has exceeded that of imports for two years straight (2003 and 2004). The 7.2 percent growth rate in 2004 is five times the 1.5 percent growth rate posted by the craft beer industry in 2003. “Craft beer volume growth outpaced that of imports, large brewers, wine and spirits in 2004,” said Paul Gatza, Director of the Brewers Association.

“2004 was a difficult year for the beer industry, but it was a huge year for craft breweries. Overall consumption was up 0.9 %, and import's growth rate of 1.5 % was the lowest figure for import growth in 13 years. What this means is that craft beers are increasingly making headway in the areas of market share and consumer enjoyment," Paul Gatza, Director of the Brewers Association said.

Craft Beers: Generally, "all-malt," domestic beers produced using 100 percent malted barley. Craft beers that are not all-malt sometimes substitute a percentage of malted wheat (for wheat beers) or malted rye (for rye beers). Their inspiration can be traced to British, German or Belgian traditions or is often uniquely American. Craft beers range from pale to dark in color and from mild to strong in alcohol content. Sometimes they include unusual ingredients such as fruit, herbs or spices. Compared with other beers, their emphasis is more on flavor, and less on appealing to a mass market. (The best-selling American beers are brewed using 30 to 40 percent rice or corn "adjunct," resulting in a paler, lighter-bodied and lighter-flavored beer).

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