USA, MI: Michigan's beer industry supported more than 66,000 jobs in 2020

A new report by the National Beer Wholesalers Association and the Beer Institute found that Michigan's beer industry had an overall economic impact of $9.9 billion in 2020 and supported more than 66,000 jobs at breweries, distributors, retailers and other facilities, the Midland Daily News reported on July 1.

According to the report, Michigan beer distributors employ 4,866 people. The entire beer industry — which includes brewers, distributors, retailers and supporting industries like agriculture, transportation and manufacturing — was found to have this $9.9 billion economic impact, paying more than $2.6 billion in wages in 2020.

Midland Brewing Co. Marketing and Communications Leader Clark Bickham said the brewery was able to make it through the pandemic and increase some sales during the pandemic.

"There was a massive increase in can sales, that was one way to increase sales," Bickham said. "Keg sales were down so we ended up bringing in our own canning line. Our brewers and staff worked canning days and took care of putting them on the pallets and getting them ready for distributors.

"That’s been the biggest change and it’s been a benefit. We’ve been able to work on our own time and not have to work around another company's schedule. That’s allowed us to increase can production; we’re able to release smaller batches and get more limited releases out into distribution," Bickham continued.

Michigan is 10th among states in beer production per barrel, producing more than 900,000 barrels and containing 400 breweries, the sixth most among states, per the World Population Review.

Bickham credits Michigan's fresh water sources for being one of the best beer states.

"A lot of things contribute to Michigan being a hotbed for breweries, but a lot is mostly because of the state itself," Bickham said. "With there being so many recreational activities that people are able to enjoy throughout the year, a lot of them involve celebrating with or ending with a cold beer. Also the fact that Michigan is the No. 1 fresh water source, you can’t beat the locally sourced water. The base of beer is water, and if your water’s off or your minerals aren’t quite right, that affects the beer."

The report adds that Michigan's beer industry is poised to keep growing in the coming years. However, Michigan's breweries may be struggling with the national labor shortage. Bickham says that hiring has been a struggle with potential staff reluctant to return to work and that the Midland Brewing Co. is still not quite back to pre-pandemic levels.

"We’re hoping to get back there soon, we’re not quite there yet," Bickham said. "We’re opening back up to a higher percentage or more than where we were. We shut down our patio during the winter and that’s the same amount of available seating as indoor. When winter comes around and already being at 50 percent, we were limited even more."

01 July, 2021