Look out for new craft breweries and more beer production in Arizona

Arizona’s craft beer business is having a rebound second after the pandemic initially crippled the business.

State of play: Every of Arizona’s 10 largest craft breweries elevated its manufacturing in 2021.

• Mom Highway Brewing Co. produced probably the most with 19,400 barrels.
• Grand Canyon Brewing Co. noticed the most important proportion improve, rising 384% to 10,000 barrels.

Between the strains: The annual knowledge — revealed in The New Brewer, the journal of the Brewers Affiliation — is probably the most complete breakdown of the state’s craft beer business.

Of observe: Not all of our craft brewers are represented within the rankings as a result of some don’t submit gross sales and manufacturing knowledge to the Brewers Affiliation, the business’s commerce group.

• We checked out gross sales from breweries, brewpubs and taprooms however excluded contract brewers who make beer for others.
• Native locations who do not meet the definition of unbiased have been additionally excluded — together with 4 Peaks Brewing Co., which was offered to Anheuser-Busch in 2015.

What’s subsequent: Andrew Bauman of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild informed us it is not simply the massive established craft breweries which can be faring nicely.

• Six new ones opened within the state this yr with 4 extra deliberate earlier than the top of 2022.
• 5 present areas are both below building on expansions or seeking to construct new manufacturing amenities.

What he is saying: “Folks typically ask, ‘Do we’ve too many (craft breweries)? Are we getting there?’”

• “We’re not even shut. We have now loads of room.”