A World of Beer Economics from Colorado
Throughout the economic crisis there’s been one industry that has stood out—the craft beer industry. For four straight years craft breweries are reporting double-digit percentage growth with a 15 percent jump in sales and a 13 percent in volume beating the national growth and making Colorado about $450 million annually according to a report by the Denver Business Journal.
“The last time craft-beer sales didn’t jump by a double-digit percentage from January through June was 2009, when they rose by 9 percent from the first half of 2008. Since then, mid-year sales rose year over year by 12 percent in 2010, 15 percent in 2011 and 14 percent in 2012 — numbers that were very similar for end-of-year sales during those periods.”
Colorado Leads the Craft Beer World
While California boasts more breweries, Colorado has more breweries per capita than any other state. Only Portland comes close with Washington following. There’s a good reason Colorado is where it is today in the craft beer world. One name: Charlie Papazian.
Charlie Papazian discovered home brewing in the 1970s. At the time, home brewing was still illegal, a case forgotten when the sweeping laws of prohibition were being repealed. In short, brewing beer was a federal offense, but one that was never enforced. He eventually relocated to Boulder and continued his passion for home brewing. He also wrote what has become the bible for home brewers, The Joy of Home Brewing. Working along with Charlie Matzen, they were instrumental in repealing the law that made home brewing illegal. In 1978 Jimmy Carter signed HR 1337 into law legalizing home brewing.
Papazian then built what would become the foundation for all this economic growth, the Brewer’s Association. With the Brewer’s Association came the Great American Beer Festival, a takeoff of the Great British Beer Festival with a few exceptional changes that made the festival a more inclusive event for many types of beers. The Great American Beer Festival is the largest beer festival on this side of the planet. Only Europe has bigger beer festivals.
As of June 30th, the number of breweries open today in the U.S. has reached 2,500. But the craft beer movement has spilled over worldwide. Countries like Italy are becoming world players in craft beer. Even with the economic quicksand there, craft beer has grown exponentially. While countries like Brazil, Spain, Japan and even Palestine are finding a taste for a bubbly economic option. All of this because of a fellow Coloradoan and the fine tastes of our great state.
Denver's Beer Lovers Paradise
The downtown area is full of local brewing companies and loved fine beer connoisseurs. One of the greatest advantages of living in a loft or condo is the quick access and diversity of these establishments. Give us a call today at 303-991-9878 or contact us below and allow us the privilege of showing you all the benefits of great downtown living.
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