Report: Nation’s craft brewers boost production by 15 percent through mid-year

BOULDER — The craft beer industry is on pace for significant gains again in 2015, with mid-year production up roughly 15 percent versus the same point a year ago, according to a new report released Monday by the Boulder-based Brewers Association.

From January through June of this year, craft brewers produced about 12.2 million barrels, up from 10.6 million in the first half of 2014. Perhaps more impressive is that the 2015 figure is nearly double that of just three years ago when craft brewers produced 6.4 million barrels in the first half of 2012.

Helping spur the production growth was the net increase of 699 craft breweries since June 30 of 2014, bringing the nation’s total to 3,739, more than double the 1,776 the nation had at the midpoint of 2011.

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“The continued growth of small and independent brewers illustrates that additional market opportunities and demand are prevalent, although competition in the sector is certainly growing and the need for brewers to differentiate and produce world class high quality beer is more important than ever,” Brewers Association economist Bart Watson said.