Despite boasting a global market worth over $750 billion, the dynamic world of beer is truly fueled by the local taproom, where a surge in craft brewing and shifting consumer tastes are fermenting a multi-billion dollar economic powerhouse.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. beer industry economic output reached $117.6 billion in 2022
- Global beer market size was valued at $752.3 billion in 2022
- U.S. craft brewer sales grew 4% by volume in 2022
- Global beer production 1.92 billion hectoliters in 2022
- U.S. beer production 171.2 million barrels in 2022
- China produced 36.5% of world beer in 2022
- U.S. beer industry employed 1.6 million workers in 2022
- Breweries supported 297,000 direct jobs in U.S. 2022
- Beer industry paid $39 billion in wages in U.S. 2022
- U.S. 35.1% of adults prefer beer as alcohol choice 2023
- 41% of U.S. beer drinkers aged 21-34 in 2022
- Low/no-alcohol beer consumption up 28% globally 2022
- U.S. craft breweries numbered 2,753 in 2013 growing to 9,730 by 2022
- Craft breweries hold 13.4% U.S. market share 2023
- Non-alcoholic craft beer up 50% sales 2022
The global beer industry is massive and growing, with craft breweries driving significant innovation and economic impact.
Consumer Demographics & Trends
- U.S. 35.1% of adults prefer beer as alcohol choice 2023
- 41% of U.S. beer drinkers aged 21-34 in 2022
- Low/no-alcohol beer consumption up 28% globally 2022
- 62% of U.S. millennials drink craft beer weekly 2023
- Women represent 38% of U.S. craft beer drinkers 2022
- Off-premise beer sales 78% of U.S. volume 2022
- 25% rise in hard seltzer shifting from beer 2022
- Hispanic consumers 20% of U.S. beer market growth 2022
- 51% of Gen Z prefer flavored beers 2023
- U.S. beer per capita consumption 26.9 gallons 2022
- Premium beer segment grew 5% in U.S. 2022
- 67% of consumers seek local breweries 2023
- Craft beer drinkers visit taprooms 3x more 2022
- 35.1% adults prefer beer U.S. 2023
- 41% beer drinkers 21-34 U.S. 2022
- No/lo beer up 28% global 2022
- 62% millennials weekly craft 2023
- Women 38% craft drinkers U.S. 2022
- Off-premise 78% volume U.S. 2022
- Hard seltzer shift 25% from beer 2022
- Hispanics 20% growth U.S. 2022
- 51% Gen Z flavored beers 2023
- Per capita 26.9 gal U.S. 2022
- Premium segment +5% U.S. 2022
- 67% seek local breweries 2023
- Taproom visits 3x craft drinkers 2022
Consumer Demographics & Trends Interpretation
While younger generations are still enthusiastically sudsy—flocking to craft, flavors, and local taprooms—the industry is soberingly aware that nearly four in ten of its future aficionados are women, a quarter of its casual drinkers are being lured by seltzer, and everyone, from Gen Z to their elders, is increasingly eyeing the no-lo option, proving that the modern beer market is a complex pour of tradition, innovation, and calculated diversification.
Craft & Specialty Brews
- U.S. craft breweries numbered 2,753 in 2013 growing to 9,730 by 2022
- Craft breweries hold 13.4% U.S. market share 2023
- Non-alcoholic craft beer up 50% sales 2022
- 51 U.S. states have craft breweries 2022
- Sour beer category grew 45% in craft segment 2022
- IPA remains 45% of craft beer sales U.S. 2022
- Over 9,000 craft breweries in U.S. 2023
- Hazy IPA style up 70% in craft production 2022
- Gluten-free beer market in craft doubled 2022
- Barrel-aged craft beers increased 30% 2022
- Pastry stouts popular in 25% craft taprooms 2023
- Organic craft beer sales rose 15% U.S. 2022
- Session IPAs gained 20% craft market share 2022
Craft & Specialty Brews Interpretation
The American craft beer scene has exploded into a delightfully chaotic and experimental adult playground where hop-heads still reign supreme, but they're now happily sharing the sandbox with sour sippers, health-conscious sippers, and pastry-loving pioneers all elbowing for a tap handle.
Employment & Economics
- U.S. beer industry employed 1.6 million workers in 2022
- Breweries supported 297,000 direct jobs in U.S. 2022
- Beer industry paid $39 billion in wages in U.S. 2022
- Global brewery workforce over 10 million in 2022
- U.S. craft brewers employ 168,000 people in 2022
- Beer sector generated $37 billion in tax revenue U.S. 2022
- Germany brewery employment 130,000 in 2022
- U.S. beer wholesalers employ 183,000 in 2022
- Industry spending $6.9 billion on advertising U.S. 2022
- U.S. breweries paid $7.4 billion in federal taxes 2022
- Global beer tourism supports 2.5 million jobs
- U.S. suppliers to beer industry 1.3 million jobs 2022
- Average brewery wage $65,000 annually U.S. 2022
- Beer industry exports supported 45,000 U.S. jobs 2022
- Induced jobs from beer industry 442,000 in U.S. 2022
- 1.6M workers U.S. beer industry 2022
- 297K direct brewery jobs U.S. 2022
- $39B wages beer industry U.S. 2022
- Over 10M global brewery workforce 2022
- 168K craft brewer jobs U.S. 2022
- $37B tax revenue beer U.S. 2022
- 130K brewery jobs Germany 2022
- 183K wholesaler jobs U.S. 2022
- $6.9B advertising spend U.S. 2022
- $7.4B federal taxes breweries U.S. 2022
- 2.5M jobs beer tourism global
- 1.3M supplier jobs U.S. 2022
- Avg wage $65K brewery U.S. 2022
- 45K export jobs U.S. 2022
- 442K induced jobs U.S. 2022
Employment & Economics Interpretation
The beer industry is a formidable economic engine, proving that while a single job may be about pouring pints, 1.6 million of them, plus $39 billion in wages and $37 billion in taxes, is really about pouring prosperity.
Market Size & Revenue
- U.S. beer industry economic output reached $117.6 billion in 2022
- Global beer market size was valued at $752.3 billion in 2022
- U.S. craft brewer sales grew 4% by volume in 2022
- Beer industry contributed $28.2 billion to U.S. GDP in 2022
- Global beer revenue projected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2030
- U.S. beer sales volume totaled 5.8 billion cases in 2022
- Craft beer represented 13.3% of U.S. beer market share in 2022
- European beer market valued at €150 billion in 2023
- U.S. brewery count reached 9,730 in 2022
- Beer market CAGR expected at 4.5% from 2023-2030 globally
- U.S. beer industry sales hit $121 billion in 2023
- Asia-Pacific beer market share was 42% in 2022
- U.S. imported beer sales up 2% in 2022
- Global craft beer market to grow at 13.8% CAGR to 2028
- U.S. beer wholesale value $56.8 billion in 2022
- Mexico beer production value $20 billion in 2022
- U.S. craft brewery retail sales $28.4 billion in 2022
- U.S. beer industry economic output $117.6 billion 2022
- Global beer market $752.3 billion valuation 2022
- U.S. craft sales 4% volume growth 2022
- Beer GDP contribution $28.2 billion U.S. 2022
- Worldwide beer revenue forecast $1.1T by 2030
- U.S. sales volume 5.8B cases beer 2022
- Craft 13.3% U.S. beer market 2022
- Europe beer market €150B 2023
- 9,730 U.S. breweries 2022
- Beer CAGR 4.5% global 2023-2030
Market Size & Revenue Interpretation
The American beer industry pours a formidable $117.6 billion into the national economy, proving that while craft breweries are the passionate artisans growing at a steady 4%, it’s the relentless global thirst—fueling a $752 billion market heading toward a trillion—that truly keeps the financial taps flowing.
Production & Output
- Global beer production 1.92 billion hectoliters in 2022
- U.S. beer production 171.2 million barrels in 2022
- China produced 36.5% of world beer in 2022
- U.S. craft beer production 24.2 million barrels in 2022
- Germany beer output 80.1 million hectoliters in 2022
- Brazil beer production 149 million hectoliters in 2022
- U.S. microbreweries produced 12.1% of beer in 2022
- World beer consumption 189 billion liters in 2022
- EU beer production down 2.5% to 366 million hectoliters in 2022
- U.S. regional craft breweries output 58% of craft beer in 2022
- Mexico exported 4.5 billion liters of beer in 2022
- Japan beer production 424 million hectoliters in 2022
- U.S. total breweries produced 196 million barrels equivalent in 2022
- U.S. global beer production 1.92B hl 2022
- U.S. production 171.2M barrels 2022
- China 36.5% world beer production 2022
- Craft production 24.2M barrels U.S. 2022
- Germany 80.1M hl beer output 2022
- Brazil 149M hl production 2022
- Microbreweries 12.1% U.S. beer 2022
- World consumption 189B liters 2022
- EU production down 2.5% to 366M hl 2022
- Regional craft 58% craft beer U.S. 2022
- Mexico exports 4.5B liters beer 2022
- Japan 424M hl production 2022
- U.S. total 196M barrels equiv 2022
Production & Output Interpretation
While China industriously produces over a third of the world's suds and Mexico floods the globe with exports, America's beer story is one of behemoths and artisans, where a vibrant craft scene—fueled by small microbreweries and regional powerhouses—shakes up a stable but sluggish global keg, proving that quantity is China's game, but character is still on tap from Munich to Milwaukee.
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