Gitnux/Report 2026

Craft Brewery Industry Statistics

In 2023, the U.S. craft beer business hit $31.2 billion in sales while the market still nudged down in share to 13.4% of total beer value, even as craft volumes climbed and the number of breweries rose to 9,730. Follow the tight link between who is drinking and where jobs are growing, from 68% favoring local breweries to 183,400 craft jobs and an average $65,000 wage.
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July 5, 2026Updated
Craft Brewery Industry Statistics
Catherine WuWritten by Catherine Wu·Edited by Emilia Santos·Fact-checked by Yumi Nakamura
Published ·Updated
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Craft beer hit $31.2 billion in sales in 2023, yet its volume market share edged down to 12.9% from 13.1% the year before. The industry is simultaneously expanding and reshaping its audience, with 42% of U.S. adults trying craft beer in the past month and millennials accounting for 36% of craft volume. What ties it all together is the growing local pull, from 68% of craft drinkers preferring nearby breweries to craft employment reaching 183,400 jobs.

Key Takeaways

  • 55-64 age group 22% of craft beer drinkers in 2023
  • 42% of U.S. adults tried craft beer in past month 2023
  • Millennials consume 36% of craft beer volume 2023
  • Craft employment totaled 183,400 jobs in 2023
  • Craft breweries supported 1.2 million jobs indirectly in 2023
  • Average wage in craft brewing $65,000 annually 2023
  • In 2023, the U.S. craft beer market reached a value of $28.9 billion, representing 13.4% of the total beer market
  • Craft brewery sales grew by 4% in volume in 2022 compared to 2021
  • Number of craft breweries in the U.S. increased to 9,730 in 2023 from 9,456 in 2022
  • U.S. craft breweries produced 12.6% of total U.S. beer barrels in 2023
  • Total craft production volume 23.9 million barrels in 2023
  • IPA styles accounted for 23% of craft production volume in 2023
  • Craft breweries sales reached $31.2 billion in 2023
  • Off-premise craft beer sales up 5.1% in value 2023
  • Average price per barrel for craft beer $1,250 in 2023

U.S. craft beer grew in value and breweries, with local demand driving 2023 market expansion.

Related reading

02 · Category

Employment And Economics25 stats

01
Craft employment totaled 183,400 jobs in 2023
02
Craft breweries supported 1.2 million jobs indirectly in 2023
03
Average wage in craft brewing $65,000annually 2023
04
65% of craft brewery employees full-time in 2023
05
Economic output from craft $119.9 billion in U.S. 2023
06
Craft industry paid $12.4 billion in wages 2023
07
2,800 new jobs created by craft brewery openings 2023
08
Brewpubs employed 45,000 workers in 2023
09
Craft sector labor productivity $650k per employee 2023
10
Taxes paid by craft breweries $3.7 billion federal excise 2023
11
25% of craft workers women, up from 20% in 2018
12
Average brewery staff size 45 employees in 2023
13
Induced economic impact $37.2 billion from craft 2023
14
Craft contributed $28.4 billion to GDP 2023
15
Turnover rate in craft brewing 18% annually 2023
16
Supplier impact 477,000 jobs supported by craft 2023
17
Craft breweries in rural areas employed 35,000 in 2023
18
Total state/local taxes from craft $2.6 billion 2023
19
15% growth in craft R&D jobs since 2020
20
Craft industry multiplier effect 7.6 jobs per direct job 2023
21
Property taxes from craft facilities $1.1 billion 2023
22
40% of craft owners multi-generational family businesses 2023
23
Craft tourism generated $5.4 billion spending 2023
24
Veteran-owned craft breweries 500+ employing 8,000 in 2023
25
Craft sector capital investment $4.2 billion 2023
Interpretation

Employment And Economics Interpretation

In 2023, the craft brewing industry employed 183,400 people directly and supported 1.2 million jobs overall while generating $119.9 billion in economic output, with wages totaling $12.4 billion and an average pay of $65,000 for workers where 65% were full time.

03 · Category

Market Size And Growth30 stats

01
In 2023, the U.S. craft beer market reached a value of $28.9 billion, representing 13.4% of the total beer market
02
Craft brewery sales grew by 4% in volume in 2022 compared to 2021
03
Number of craft breweries in the U.S. increased to 9,730 in 2023 from 9,456 in 2022
04
Craft beer market share by volume was 12.9% in 2023, down slightly from 13.1% in 2022
05
Global craft beer market projected to grow at CAGR of 16.2% from 2023 to 2030
06
U.S. craft beer production volume hit 23.1 million barrels in 2022
07
Craft segment accounted for 24.4% of U.S. beer production growth in the last decade
08
By 2024, craft beer market expected to reach $115.9 billion globally
09
U.S. microbreweries numbered 2,437 in 2023, contributing to overall growth
10
Regional craft beer market in the Midwest grew 5.2% in 2023
11
Craft beer industry saw 1.6% barrel growth in 2023 despite overall beer decline
12
Number of U.S. brewpubs reached 2,269 in 2023
13
Craft market share by sales volume stable at 13.3% in 2023
14
Asia-Pacific craft beer market to grow fastest at 18.5% CAGR through 2028
15
U.S. craft breweries produced 25.4 million barrels in 2023 estimate
16
Craft beer CAGR in Europe projected at 14.7% from 2023-2030
17
Total U.S. beer market volume declined 3% in 2023, but craft grew 2%
18
Craft brewery count grew 2.9% YoY in 2023
19
Global craft beer production expected to reach 400 million hectoliters by 2027
20
U.S. Northeast region led with 2,800 craft breweries in 2023
21
Craft beer retail sales value up 6% to $29.5 billion in 2023
22
Small breweries (<1M barrels) hold 97.5% of craft breweries
23
Craft market penetration reached 24% in total U.S. beer sales historically
24
2023 saw 307 new craft brewery openings in U.S.
25
Craft beer market in Canada valued at CAD 3.2 billion in 2023
26
U.S. craft segment resilient with 1.4% growth amid 4% industry contraction 2023
27
Total craft breweries worldwide estimated at 25,000 in 2023
28
U.S. craft beer market share peaked at 13.3% in 2021 before stabilizing
29
Projected U.S. craft market volume growth 3.2% annually to 2028
30
Craft brewery density highest in Vermont at 27.5 per 100k adults 2023
Interpretation

Market Size And Growth Interpretation

The U.S. craft beer market hit $28.9 billion in 2023 and climbed to 9,730 breweries, while craft beer volume share eased slightly to 12.9%, showing steady expansion in market size alongside a modest shift in competitive growth dynamics.

More related reading

04 · Category

Production And Output27 stats

01
U.S. craft breweries produced 12.6% of total U.S. beer barrels in 2023
02
Total craft production volume 23.9 million barrels in 2023
03
IPA styles accounted for 23% of craft production volume in 2023
04
Microbreweries produced 1.8 million barrels in 2022
05
Average craft brewery output 2,450 barrels per year in 2023
06
Non-alcoholic craft beer production up 20% to 0.5 million barrels 2023
07
Regional craft breweries output grew 3.5% in Pacific region 2023
08
Total U.S. brewery production 196.6 million barrels in 2023, craft 12.2%
09
Craft pilsners production increased 15% YoY in 2023
10
Brewpubs output declined 2% to 1.2 million barrels in 2023
11
Hazy IPAs represented 12.4% of craft barrelage in 2023
12
Craft seltzers and flavored malt production 0.8 million barrels 2023
13
Smallest craft breweries (<100 barrels) numbered 4,500 in 2023
14
Wheat beer styles 8.7% of craft production 2023
15
Craft lager production surged 25% to 2.1 million barrels 2023
16
Average annual production per craft brewery 2,800 barrels in 2022
17
Hard seltzer production by craft brewers up 10% in 2023
18
Pale ales 9.2% of total craft output 2023
19
Craft cider production crossover 0.3 million barrels 2023
20
Stouts and porters 6.5% barrel share in craft 2023
21
Mid-size craft (15k-6M barrels) produced 40% of craft volume 2023
22
Fruit beers production doubled to 1.1 million barrels 2023
23
Craft production per capita 0.07 barrels in U.S. 2023
24
Session IPAs 7.8% of craft barrels 2023
25
Large craft (>6M barrels) 2.5% of breweries but 25% volume 2023
26
Craft beer sales volume 24.2 million barrels in off-premise channels 2023
27
Total craft barrelage growth slowed to 1.8% in 2023
Interpretation

Production And Output Interpretation

In the production and output snapshot for 2023, U.S. craft breweries hit 23.9 million barrels, representing 12.6% of total U.S. beer output, with IPA styles driving 23% of that volume.

05 · Category

Sales And Revenue24 stats

01
Craft breweries sales reached $31.2 billion in 2023
02
Off-premise craft beer sales up 5.1% in value 2023
03
Average price per barrel for craft beer $1,250in 2023
04
Craft segment generated 14.2% of total U.S. beer sales revenue 2023
05
Direct-to-consumer sales for craft breweries $4.8 billion 2023
06
On-premise craft sales declined 3.2% in volume but up 2% value 2023
07
Top 50 craft brands sales $6.5 billion in 2023
08
Craft beer export value $1.2 billion from U.S. in 2023
09
Average revenue per craft brewery $3.2 million in 2023
10
Supermarket craft beer sales volume 15.4 million barrels 2023
11
Craft revenue growth 6.8% despite volume dip in 2023
12
E-commerce craft beer sales up 28% to $1.1 billion 2023
13
Regional craft sales leader West Coast $10.4 billion 2023
14
Craft taproom revenue averaged $1.5 million per brewery 2023
15
Total beer industry sales $117 billion, craft 26% share 2023
16
Craft wholesale revenue $22.7 billion in 2023
17
Price per 6-pack craft beer averaged $11.25in 2023
18
Craft sales in convenience stores up 12% volume 2023
19
Brewery-direct sales grew 15% to $5.2 billion 2023
20
Craft import sales value $950 million in U.S. 2023
21
Average craft brand revenue $45 million for top performers 2023
22
Liquor store craft sales 8.9 million barrels 2023
23
Craft beer revenue per barrel $1,300in 2023
24
Mass craft sales down 1% but premium up 7% 2023
Interpretation

Sales And Revenue Interpretation

In 2023, craft breweries hit $31.2 billion in sales, with off premise volume rising 5.1% in value and direct to consumer reaching $4.8 billion, signaling that revenue growth is increasingly being driven by channels beyond on premise where volume fell 3.2%.
report visual · Comparison

Craft beer adoption is broad—and millennials drive volume

Key audience segments show strong craft interest, with taste and local preferences pulling consumers in.

68% of craft drinkers prefer local breweries 202368%
67% prefer hazy/NEIPAs over traditional 202367%
61% cite taste as top craft purchase driver 202361%
42% of U.S. adults tried craft beer in past month 202342%
Millennials consume 36% of craft beer volume 202336%
Reference

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APA
Catherine Wu. (2026, February 13). Craft Brewery Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/craft-brewery-industry-statistics
MLA
Catherine Wu. "Craft Brewery Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/craft-brewery-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Catherine Wu. 2026. "Craft Brewery Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/craft-brewery-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

27 datasets cited across this report

brewersassociation.orgstatista.comgrandviewresearch.comfortunebusinessinsights.comttb.govniagarabrewing.commarketsandmarkets.commordorintelligence.combrewbound.comcraftbrewingbusiness.comalliedmarketresearch.comtechnavio.comibisworld.combeveragedaily.comthebusinessresearchcompany.comnielseniq.comcircana.combrewingindustryguide.combrewingbusiness.combls.govbea.govbrewingindustry.orgers.usda.govimplan.comnfib.comfamilybusiness.orgsba.gov