Craft beer sales continue to climb

BOULDER – Sales of beer made by small and independent craft brewers have increased in the first six months of 2009 but at a smaller rate than experienced during the same period in 2008.

According to the Boulder-based Brewers Association, craft beer sales for the first six months of 2009 increased 9 percent, down from 11 percent for the same time last year. And volume of beer sold increased 5 percent compared to 6.5 percent for the first half of last year. However, 4.2 million barrels of craft brew were sold in the first half of 2009 compared to 4 million…