E-Malt.com News article: USA, AL: 12 new breweries planned to open in Alabama

There are nearly 20 breweries operating in Alabama and more in planning, al.com reported on September, 16.

For Keith Yager, brewmaster at Yellowhammer Brewery, the growth is simply "staggering."

"What's even more staggering is that our sales at Yellowhammer continue to grow, so Alabama's thirst for craft beer seems almost unquenchable," he said.

This month, Australian research firm IBISWorld announced U.S. craft beer production is slated to grow 16.8 percent by the end of the year. The industry is expected to have "the most aggressive revenue growth of any alcoholic beverage" nationwide as craft beer production expands 7.4 percent annually through 2019, IBISWorld said.

In Alabama, the number of existing breweries nearly doubled last year and the number of planned breweries across the state jumped from seven to 12. The Alabama Brewers Guild said the number of taxable removal barrels (the amount of beer sold and taxed) was 28,373 in 2013, up 47 percent from 19,301 in 2012.

"I couldn't even guess what that number is now, which is a good problem to have I guess," said Dan Roberts, executive director of the Alabama Brewers Guild.

IBISWorld media specialist Tyler Allen said seasonal craft beers make up about 23.7 percent of the industry's total revenue and that trend will likely continue growing during the next five years.

Roberts isn't surprised by seasonal beer trend.

"It's something for customers to look forward to and allows breweries to have a little more diverse portfolio without having to make 16 different kinds of beer all the time," he said.

Rocket Republic Brewing Co. launched its first seasonal spiced pumpkin ale, Steampunkin', earlier this year.

"We, as brewers, are simply responding to the market," Eric Crigger, owner/brewer for Rocket Republic said. "If there was demand for a seasonal year-round, we'd certainly consider brewing it year-round. I'm not terribly concerned with social norms or what I want. As a brewer, I want to brew what people want to drink."

Yager said big breweries have the ability to produce craft beer in large quantities, so it doesn't make financial sense to make small batches of seasonal beer for local or regional markets.

"It's the local demand for great craft beer that is pushing the growth of small craft brewing," he said. "Seasonal beers are especially appealing to local markets because these are specialty beers often not available anywhere else in the country."


17 September, 2014