The Brewers Association released preliminary data today for 2012 growth on U.S. craft beer. The growth numbers are stronger than anticipated, with a 15% rise in volume and 17 percent increase in dollar growth representing a total barrel increase of almost 1.8 million.

The total U.S. beer market grew by one percent. Craft brewers reached 6.5 percent volume of the total U.S. beer market, up from 5.7 percent the previous year.

 “Beer is a $99 billion industry to which craft brewers are making a significant contribution, with retail sales share hitting double digits for the first time in 2012,” said Paul Gatza, director, Brewers Association. “Small and independent brewers are consistently innovating and producing high quality, flavor-forward craft brewed beer. Americans are not only responding to greater access to these products, but also to the stories and people behind them.”

A more extensive analysis will be released during the Craft Brewers Conference in Washington, D.C. from March 26-29. 

Read Full Press Release here

Altamont Beer Works, Livermore CA – Now Open!

Congratulations to owners Greg Robles and Stephen Sartori
Visit their website here and facebook @ Altamont Beer Works

Congratulations CCBA members Altamont Beer Works

The enormous success of America’s Craft Beer renaissance has given rise to a flowering of small businesses and local employment all across this great nation of ours. It has also spawned a wonderful Craft Beer culture and made a lot of people very happy. But….and this is a Big But; this dynamic “grassroots” development hasn’t gone unnoticed. For various reasons, and by various means, the makers of mass-produced beer have decided to try to get in on the “action”. In an enlightening article in today’s St. Louis Dispatch, Charlie Papazian, Bob Pease and Dan Kopman of the Brewers Association give a little background on this story.
Read full story here

Is it important for you to know who makes your beer?
 
Yes?
 
Then take this poll!
 
Independent craft brewers, including both small and large craft brewers, specialize in creative, small batch, hand brewed beer. Now, the major brands are trying to mimic craft brewers with automated, mass-produced, homogenized  “Full- Flavored” beer.
 
The Brewers Association is taking a poll and wants to know, is it important to you WHO MAKES YOUR BEER?

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE POLL

 
The Brewers Association today released mid-year data on the U.S. craft brewing industry, which showed a 14 percent increase in dollar sales and 12 percent jump in volume in the first half of 2012.  Additionally, the total U.S. brewery count is now at 2,126 breweries – the highest since the late 1800s.

Full details here

The Pioneer Saloon first  opened for business in 1862. The current building was constructed in  the 1920′s, renovated in 2012 and opened as Lasson Ale Works at the Pioneer Saloon.