Beer State Stats

[hops99]

Ok, so this post proves that I have no life, but I've been curious about the number of craft breweries/brewpubs each state can claim their own. After some of the realbeer discussion regarding the geography of the tournament brackets, and an argument on another board (East vs. West), I decided to do a little research.

Using Pubcrawler and a few other sites, I was able to checklist all of the current breweries for each state (with the understanding that these numbers seem to change every few weeks). Then, I referenced 2000 census population data for each state, and was able to come up with a list of each state's breweries per capita. The results, IMO, were very interesting. Of course, this is a measure of quantity, not necessarily quality, but it's still fun to look at.

First, here are the top 10 states as far as the total number of craft breweries/brewpubs:
1. California 200+
2. Colorado 101
3. Oregon 91
4. Washington 87
5. Michigan 69
6. New York 68
7. Florida 67* (over 20 are Hops)
8. Wisconsin 60
9. Pennsylvania 57
10. Massachussetts 41

Here are the bottom 5:
49. (tie) Mississippi 3
49. (tie) North Dakota 3
47. (tie) Alabama 4
47. (tie) West Virginia 4
46. Rhode Island 5


Now, here are the top 10 states per capita:
1. Vermont 1:28,026
2. Oregon 1:38,697
3. Maine 1:39,226
4. Alaska 1:42,919
5. Colorado 1:44,619
6. Wyoming 1:45,336
7. Montana 1:45,472
8. Washington 1:69,758
9. New Hampshire 1:70,836
10. New Mexico 1:80,654

And the bottom 5 states per capita:
50. Alabama 1:1,121,627
49. Mississippi 1:957,263
48. Texas 1:725,996
47. Kentucky 1:682,148
46. Louisiana 1:640,378


So, the logical conclusion (and one I think we all already knew): avoid the South if searching for an abundance of craft beer, and the West and East coasts are still king (although the Midwest - and especially the Great Lakes states - are closing the gap).

Cheers!

[Beaver]

Yay Colorado! Thanks for compiling the info, hops99!

[Tweek]

Its interesting that California comes in at almost 2x the amount as 2nd yet I still cant get half the beers you all talk about on this board.

[fuji6100]

just great... i live in Georgia

I'll go cry in my homebrew now

[steveh]

Man, you have been busy! Interesting to see that Colorado has overtaken Oregon, they were neck-and-neck for so long.

Hey Beav, does Fort Collins compare to Portland, OR for being able to walk down a street and turn any corner into a brew-pub? At least, that's how Portland was when I visited in the early 90s.

S.

[Beaver]

Originally posted by steveh
Man, you have been busy! Interesting to see that Colorado has overtaken Oregon, they were neck-and-neck for so long.

Hey Beav, does Fort Collins compare to Portland, OR for being able to walk down a street and turn any corner into a brew-pub? At least, that's how Portland was when I visited in the early 90s.

S.

I've never been to Portland, so I can't compare. Fort Collins is a relatively small town, 118,652 (looks like Portland is > 500k). There are 6 brewers in town (although that includes A-B). There used to be 7, but one closed recently. Only 2 real brewpubs. But there are 3 excellent microbreweries that give out samples.

From the downtown Fort Collins, there 4 of them within a couple of miles.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by hops99
Ok, so this post proves that I have no life, but I've been curious about the number of craft breweries/brewpubs each state can claim their own. After some of the realbeer discussion regarding the geography of the tournament brackets, and an argument on another board (East vs. West), I decided to do a little research.

Using Pubcrawler and a few other sites, I was able to checklist all of the current breweries for each state (with the understanding that these numbers seem to change every few weeks). Then, I referenced 2000 census population data for each state, and was able to come up with a list of each state's breweries per capita. The results, IMO, were very interesting. Of course, this is a measure of quantity, not necessarily quality, but it's still fun to look at.

First, here are the top 10 states as far as the total number of craft breweries/brewpubs:
1. California 200+
2. Colorado 101
3. Oregon 91
4. Washington 87
5. Michigan 69
6. New York 68
7. Florida 67* (over 20 are Hops)
8. Wisconsin 60
9. Pennsylvania 57
10. Massachussetts 41

Here are the bottom 5:
49. (tie) Mississippi 3
49. (tie) North Dakota 3
47. (tie) Alabama 4
47. (tie) West Virginia 4
46. Rhode Island 5


Now, here are the top 10 states per capita:
1. Vermont 1:28,026
2. Oregon 1:38,697
3. Maine 1:39,226
4. Alaska 1:42,919
5. Colorado 1:44,619
6. Wyoming 1:45,336
7. Montana 1:45,472
8. Washington 1:69,758
9. New Hampshire 1:70,836
10. New Mexico 1:80,654

And the bottom 5 states per capita:
50. Alabama 1:1,121,627
49. Mississippi 1:957,263
48. Texas 1:725,996
47. Kentucky 1:682,148
46. Louisiana 1:640,378


So, the logical conclusion (and one I think we all already knew): avoid the South if searching for an abundance of craft beer, and the West and East coasts are still king (although the Midwest - and especially the Great Lakes states - are closing the gap).

Cheers!

Interesting! Very interesting.

[denver brewhoo]

Hey hops99---did you, or could somebody, figure out volume? I tried to do this once, comparing my current state, Colorado, with the state of my birth, Virginia. (I was trying to support the proposition that Northern Virginia really really needed another brewery, let's call it the, um, Denver Brewhoo Brewery, notwithstanding the greatness of Old Dominion)....but nobody talks very much about how much they're actually producing-- I think at the time Old Dominion was in the low 30 thousands (barrels) per a newspaper article, while Odell's was around 15, New Belgium nearly 200 (!), Avery around 12. I do remember that every brewery and brewpub in Va. combined was significantly less than New Belgium; and if you deleted New Belgium, it was still more than 2 to 1 (Colo:Va) despite similar population numbers. (Not counting AB or Coors in either state)

So--in your research did you find some compilation of production estimates or, even better, real numbers? Just curious.

[BigRed]

Originally posted by hops99


47. (tie) West Virginia 4



DOH! All of those micros/pubs are about 2+ hours from where I live at now...

[Beaver]

It would be interesting to see a list of all microbreweries and how much they output. Does anyone know where to find that data?

[BigRed]

Originally posted by Beaver
It would be interesting to see a list of all microbreweries and how much they output. Does anyone know where to find that data?

I think to find that, you would more n' likely have to write the pub/brewery and ask them to send you that info (some list it on thier website).

[denver brewhoo]

hey bigred---just ran a search on pubcrawler w/ my zip code (80210) and "25 miles" and got 42 breweries....not to rub it in or anything....Course 4 were a mediocre chain (C.B & Potts) 3 more another mediocre chain (Hops)....but still

[BigRed]

I found 4 brewies/brew pubs and 6 regular pubs - Closest one is in charleston WV, which is still about 1.25 hours away...

It figures I have to live in one of the most run down states in the union....

[Fast_Eddy]

My only saving grace is that I bet a full 40% of the TX micro/brewpubs are in or around Austin.

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by Fast_Eddy
My only saving grace is that I bet a full 40% of the TX micro/brewpubs are in or around Austin.

If not more! I have always been surprised at the amazing lack of craft breweries and brewpubs in the DFW area!

[Stodbrew]

Originally posted by Beaver
It would be interesting to see a list of all microbreweries and how much they output. Does anyone know where to find that data?


The Institute for Brewing Studies out of Boulder, CO has all of that info. Or most of it, actually, depending on what breweries responded.

[Beaver]

Originally posted by Stodbrew
The Institute for Brewing Studies out of Boulder, CO has all of that info. Or most of it, actually, depending on what breweries responded.

Do you have a pointer?

[Stodbrew]

Originally posted by Beaver
Do you have a pointer?


Their website is www.beertown.org. I don't think this years numbers are in, yet. Their phone number is 888-822-6273.

[Beaver]

Originally posted by Stodbrew
Their website is www.beertown.org. I don't think this years numbers are in, yet. Their phone number is 888-822-6273.

Thanks for the link. do they post a list of individual microbreweries outputs? I saw a general page:
http://www.beertown.org/education/statistics.html

But no details even from past years.

[batkins]

Originally posted by steveh
Man, you have been busy! Interesting to see that Colorado has overtaken Oregon, they were neck-and-neck for so long.

Hey Beav, does Fort Collins compare to Portland, OR for being able to walk down a street and turn any corner into a brew-pub? At least, that's how Portland was when I visited in the early 90s.

S.

Portland is still that way.
And if it's not a brewpub, then you'll find a bar with 25-100 taps, with a majority being regional brews.
I love it here!:D