Beer Me

Last Saturday, I volunteered at the 4^th Annual St. Paul Summer Beer Fest at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.  This isn’t the kind of volunteering that makes you feel like you’re helping humanity.  It’s the kind that makes you feel like you’re saving yourself the $40 admission fee and getting a free t-shirt. 

There were over 103 breweries (26 from Minnesota) handing out free samples and engaging in all manner of shenanigans.  The organizers of the event were discussing the explosion in the craft beer industry over the last few years.  According to a recent article in the Star Tribune "Craft beer sales soar in Upper Midwest", 10 new craft breweries have opened in Minnesota since 2010.  Several more local brewers plan to open taprooms or brewpubs in 2012.

The increase in craft beer sales in the upper Midwest was 16% last year, greater than both the national average of 15.1% and the growth on the West Coast of 13.3%.  Although the upper Midwest growth in craft beer consumption is slightly above the national average, the craft beer revolution is still a national phenomenon.  The Brewer’s Association reports that 1,989 craft brewers were in operation in the United States for at least part of 2011, which is the largest number since the 1,880s.  Craft breweries also exceeded 5% volume share of beer for the first time ever in 2011. 

The increase in craft beer sales represents more local employment and more great choices for beer consumption.  I’ll drink to that!