When it comes to the craft brewing industry, breweries are popping up across the United States. But which state has the highest number of breweries? The answer may surprise you.
According to the Brewers Association, as of December 2019, the state with the highest number of breweries was California. It had 972 breweries, covering a wide variety of craft beer styles and flavors. This was followed by Washington with 501 breweries, Colorado with 498, and New York with 467. Rounding out the top five was Oregon, with 470 breweries.
Despite California having the highest number of breweries, it isn’t the most brewery-dense state. That title is held by Vermont, which only has 91 breweries but is still considered the most brewery-dense state. With a population of just over 600,000 people, Vermont has a brewery for every 6,662 people. This is closely followed by Montana, with one brewery for every 9,946 people. Colorado has the third highest brewery density, with one brewery for every 12,026 people.
The craft beer industry has been growing steadily in the past few years, with new breweries opening up in different states across the country. The Brewers Association reports that craft beer sales in the US increased by 4% in 2019, reaching $27.6 billion. This growth has been driven in part by the increasing popularity of craft beer, as well as the rise of new, innovative brewing techniques.
As the craft beer industry continues to grow, the number of breweries in each state is likely to increase. For now, however, California holds the lead as the state with the highest number of breweries.
Discovering the U.S. State with the Highest Number of Breweries
If you’re curious which U.S. state has the highest number of breweries, the answer is California. This state has more than 1,000 breweries, according to the Brewers Association, a trade group for small and independent brewers.
California isn’t the only state with a large number of breweries. Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and Michigan are also in the top five. Each of these states has more than 500 breweries operating, with Oregon ranking second with 673 breweries. Washington is third with 643 breweries, Colorado is fourth with 469 breweries, and Michigan is fifth with 420 breweries.
To explore the number of breweries in each state, you can check out the Brewers Association’s state-by-state database. This is a great resource for getting an overview of the craft brewing industry in each state. The database includes a list of active breweries, as well as key data points about the size and scope of the craft beer industry. You can also use the Brewers Association’s brewery locator, which allows you to search for breweries by zip code or city.
The craft beer industry has grown significantly in the past few years. There are now more than 7,000 breweries across the United States, and the number is growing every year. This growth means that more people are able to enjoy locally produced, high-quality beer. And with the continued growth of the craft beer industry, more states will be added to the top five list in the coming years.
Uncovering the Top U.S. State for Craft Beer Production
For beer lovers, finding the top U.S. state for craft beer production is a must. Craft beer has been on the rise in the United States over the past few years, with more and more breweries opening up around the country. But which states are leading the way?
According to the Brewers Association, California has the highest number of craft breweries in the United States, with 814. In second place is Washington state, with 709 breweries, followed by Colorado with 689. Oregon, Michigan, and New York all have over 500 breweries each, while Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania round out the top 10.
When it comes to the number of breweries per capita, Vermont takes the cake. With nearly 12 breweries for every 100,000 adults over 21, Vermont has by far the highest brewery density in the country. Following closely behind are Maine and Montana, with 11.4 and 10.1 breweries per 100,000 adults, respectively.
But when it comes to overall beer production volume, California is still the king. The state produced 4,780,720 barrels of craft beer in 2018, nearly double the production of its closest rival, Pennsylvania. The rest of the top 10 states in terms of production were Washington, Colorado, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio.
While California may be the top producer of craft beer, there are plenty of other states with thriving craft beer scenes. With more and more breweries popping up around the country, beer lovers have plenty of options when it comes to finding their new favorite brew.
Table: Top 10 States for Craft Beer Production
| State | No. of Breweries | Breweries per 100,000 Adults | Craft Beer Production (barrels) |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 814 | 4.2 | 4,780,720 |
| Washington | 709 | 7.0 | 2,473,145 |
| Colorado | 689 | 8.2 | 2,230,087 |
| Michigan | 568 | 7.7 | 1,837,188 |
| New York | 524 | 3.9 | 1,804,277 |
| Oregon | 521 | 8.5 | 1,488,795 |
| Texas | 387 | 2.1 | 1,427,918 |
| Florida | 381 | 2.3 | 1,122,097 |
| Illinois | 296 | 2.3 | 1,078,851 |
| Pennsylvania | 308 | 2.7 | 2,502,323 |
The state with the highest number of breweries is California, with a total of 798.
The second-highest state is Colorado, with a total of 394 breweries.
The state with the fewest breweries is Alaska, with only 14.
The states with the most craft breweries are California, Colorado, Washington, Michigan, Oregon, and New York.
The average number of breweries per state is about 80.
California makes up approximately 22% of total breweries in the US.
California makes up about 28% of all craft breweries in the US.
States that have seen the biggest growth in breweries include Michigan, California, Colorado, and New York.
The average number of craft breweries per state is approximately 54.
California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Michigan have the highest number of brewpubs.