December 2013
| Business World Magazine | 143
to put on world-class events and make sure
members are up to date on the latest happen-
ings in the world of craft beer.
The future of craft beer is growing
brighter by the day. The craft brewing com-
munity has seen tremendous growth over
the past decade, to the point that beer made
by craft brewers now accounts for 6.5 per-
cent of all beer brewed in the U.S., and 10.2
percent of all American beer sales. There are
currently over 2,500 breweries operating
in America, with more than 1,600 in plan-
ning, and American craft brewers now sup-
port over 108,000 jobs. Over the next five
years, the BA expects even more segment
growth, as Americans continue to demand
high-quality, craft brewed beer at an increas-
ing rate. But as craft beer growth continues,
quality must remain a top priority. American
craft brewers create full-flavored, diverse and
unique offerings, and the industry will con-
tinue to thrive so long as quality is still the
