The explosion in the number of craft breweries has created seemingly endless choices for beer enthusiasts, making it extremely difficult to decide which ones to visit and which craft beers to buy.
New beer-production statistics of the 50 fastest-growing small and independent craft breweries in the USA may be helpful in your decisions. The statistics, released by the Brewers Association, show that California is No. 1 with seven of the country's fastest-growing small and independent craft breweries. Florida ranks second with four, and there's a four-way tie among Virginia, New York, Minnesota and Oregon, which each have three.
Regionally, the statistics show that the West Coast states — California, Oregon and Washington — have 12 of the fastest-growing breweries, a total that exceeds any other region. The Southeast and the Midwest are tied for No. 2, each with 10.
The nation's fastest-growing small and independent craft brewery is CraftRoots Brewing, a seven-barrel brewery and taproom, in Milford, Massachusetts, located about 40 miles southwest of Boston. A barrel is 31 gallons.
"CraftRoots Brewing is dedicated to a grassroots approach to making beer," says the brewery's co-owner Maureen Fabry. "We are dedicated to using local ingredients and committed to brewing high-quality beer. We vaulted to No. 1 on this list, because of our 1,440 percent growth rate from 2016 to 2017, using beer production figures as the metric."
Fabry and co-owner Robin Fabry state on their website that the vision behind their facilities was "a space where beer lovers could see, hear and smell the activity in a bustling brewery.
"You can hear the fermenters actively bubbling away," they say. "Fragrant bags of malt from our local craft maltsters are right next to the taproom and cornhole game area. Take in the feel of a working brewery while you enjoy a pint and unwind."
GoatHouse Brewing in Lincoln, California, ranks No. 2 in the fastest-growing rankings. Owner Catherine Johnson says the three-barrel brewery, located about 30 miles northeast of Sacramento, is the only authentic farm-to-tap brewery in the state.
“We are legitimately farming — hops, orchards, gardens, plus onsite bees — and brewing on the same property,” Johnson says. “We tend to think of it as a labor of love.”
Despite its growth, GoatHouse Brewing “is still a pretty small brewery in the grand scheme of craft beer,” she says. “We don’t bottle, rarely distribute and are not currently looking to take over the world. Our focus is on connecting people to local agriculture and brewing the best beer we can with these incredible, local seasonal ingredients.”
Taking the No. 3 spot in the fastest-growing rankings is Crowded Castle Brewing, located about 27 miles north of Philadelphia in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
"Phoenixville is a fantastic town of craft-beer-loving people, and we have been welcomed into this community with open arms," says the brewery's founding partner Michele Mazza. "Our brewery has produced more than 44 different styles of craft beer since we opened our doors."
Crowded Castle has brewed at its current location since 2016, and the brewery's website relates a unique story about the location.
"After years of searching for locations and surviving disappointments, one of our owners was getting his haircut in Phoenixville and singing our location woes," the website says. "Someone in the barbershop said he heard the old print shop in the center of town was open for rent. We jumped on it, and here we area. In beautiful historic Phoenixville we have not only found a place to share our passion for beer and stories, but we have met the most wonderful, friendly and fun people. I guess you can never underestimate the power of a haircut!"
The Brewers Association, which represents more than 4,000 small and independent craft brewers, says its fastest-growing list only includes small and independent breweries with all production at their own facilities. Only breweries that opened on or before Dec. 31, 2015, and reported three years of production data to the Brewers Association were included. The association says it will next month release specific sales and growth numbers of individual breweries.
Bart Watson, the Brewers Association's chief economist, says it's difficult to narrow down the reasons for year-over-year growth for breweries.
"Some brewers grow because they had pent-up demand and brought on new capacity, and some grow because they start selling in new places," he says. "Some brewers' growth is because they came out with a new beer or beers that are a hit with beer lovers, and some just become better business people or find a new path to market."
A "recipe for success," Watson says, is to "make beer that people love" and the capacity — brewing- and company-wise — "to lean into your growth opportunities.
Here is the Brewers Association's list of the 50 fastest-growing small and independent craft breweries in 2017:
1) CraftRoots Brewing, Milford, Massachusetts
2) GoatHouse Brewing, Lincoln, California
3) Crowded Castle Brewing, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
4) Idyll Hounds Brewing, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
5) Royal Docks Brewing, Canton, Ohio
6) Draper Brewing, Tenmile, Oregon
7) Mastry's Brewing, St. Pete Beach, Florida
8) Novo Brazil Brewing, Chula Vista, California
9) Bruehol Brewing, Benicia, California
10) Lumber House Brewing, Maple Valley, Washington
11) Whalers Brewing, Wakefield, Rhode Island
12) Paddle Hard Brewing, Grayling, Michigan
13) Beech Mountain Brewing, Beech Mountain, North Carolina
14) Dragon's Gate Brewery, Milton-Freewater, Oregon
15) New American Brewing, Ankeny, Iowa
16) Florida Keys Brewing, Islamorada, Florida
17) War Horse Brewing, Geneva, New York
18) Keg Creek Brewing, Glenwood, Iowa
19) Wolf Tree Brewery, Seal Rock, Oregon
20) Hopsters, Newton, Massachusetts
21) Gate City Brewing, Roswell, Georgia
22) 56 Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota
23) The Brewery at Bacchus, New Paltz, New York
24) Snow Eagle Brewing, Idaho Falls, Idaho
25) Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, Leesburg, Virginia
26) Pacific Plate Brewing, Monrovia, California
27) Long Wooden Spoon Brewing, Amarillo, Texas
28) Bay City Brewing, San Diego, California
29) Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, Minnesota
30) Donum Dei Brewery, New Albany, Indiana
31) Brazos Valley Brewing, Brenham, Texas
32) Frost Beer Works, Hinesburg, Vermont
33) The Shop Beer, Tempe, Arizona
34) Darwin Brewing, Bradenton, Florida
35) Platform Beer, Cleveland, Ohio
36) 1940's Brewing, Holbrook, New York
27) Device Brewing, Sacramento, California
38) Nano 108 Brewing, Colorado Springs, Colorado
39) Blasted Barley Beer, Tempe, Arizona
40) Beaver Island Brewing, St. Cloud, Minnesota
41) Bearpaw River Brewing, Wasilla, Alaska
42) Steel Bonnet Brewing, Scotts Valley, California
43) Gnarly Barley Brewing, Hammond, Louisiana
44) Ellison Brewery & Spirits, East Lansing, Michigan
45) Big Lick Brewing, Roanoke, Virginia
46) Melvin Brewing, Alpine, Wyoming
47) Fair Winds Brewing, Lorton, Virginia
48) Barrel Mountain Brewing, Battle Ground, Washington
49) 38 State Brewing, Littleton, Colorado
50) Hutton & Smith Brewing, Chattanooga, Tennessee
