Continuing Economic Impact of Craft Brewing in MT 2016

Posted On February 17, 2017

Craft brewing represents a sizable, grass-roots industry to the Montana economy. It provides local jobs and incomes, completes purchases from regional merchants, as well as producing a made in Montana product. Craft breweries are playing an increasingly important role within the state, invigorating neighborhoods and bringing communities together over a beverage.

Furthermore, brewpubs often appear in historically industrial neighborhoods, reinvigorating and reimagining properties left vacant by passing industry. This study builds on previous work completed in 2012 and 2014, separately, to further the publics understanding of the scope of craft brewing’s contributions to the Montana economy. In total, beer production has increased 87 percent from 2010, or at roughly at 13 percent per year. The industry does not seem to be slowing down either – we find production to have grown by 15 percent in 2015, with seven additional breweries in development yet to start production.

In this study we survey Montana craft brewers to ascertain their production, revenues, employment, payroll and other information. This survey is unique in that we collect data only on Montana based craft brewers, while federal statistics lump all brewing into a single category.

The survey results from this study indicate rapid and continuing growth in Montana’s brewing sector. From 2010 to 2015, Montana craft beer production increased by 87 percent, while sales have increased by 111 percent and employment by 204 percent. Expenditures increased by 140 percent and payrolls by 154 percent

Check out the latest 2016 The Continuing Economic Impact of Craft Brewing in Montana