According to a study by the Brewers Association, Pennsylvania ranks number 1 in the U.S for barrels of beer produced at 3.9 million. The next highest state is California at 3.2 million. To put that into perspective, that means CA is producing 1 barrel of beer for every 12 people in the state, whereas PA is producing 1 barrel for every 3 people in the state!

That’s not the only area that PA ranks in the top part of the country. In fact in most major categories the state ranks no lower than #7. Pennsylvania is #2 in economic impact, #2 in gallons produced per 21+ year old adult, #4 in impact per capita and #7 in Craft Breweries per state (however that last number is always rising as more open!)

See the stats for yourself:

Breweries Opening In The State

The number of breweries opening in the state is also on a steady rise, and as of 2017 has taken it’s biggest jump ever. It’s hard to believe, but 7 years ago (2011) there were only 88 breweries operating in the state. Before 2017 the largest jump the state ever had in breweries opening was between 2014 and 2015 when the state grew by 42 breweries. Between 2016 and 2017 the state grew by almost 100 breweries! That’s more than the past 3 years combined. Putting the state at over 300 breweries.

With the amount of new breweries that are contacting us about opening, we can attest to these numbers!

2018 should be a great year for Pennsylvania Craft Beer. The state has never operated at this high of a level before, and that is going to lead to a lot of new excitement. We look forward to what 2018 has to offer for PA Beer.