Craft beer contributes $6.5 bil. to Calif. economy
By Allen Young, Sacramento Business Journal
California produces more craft beer than any other state, and the number of in-state breweries grew by over 24 percent last year to 519, according to research from the California Craft Brewers Association.
Total sales last year were $6.5 billion, up 18 percent from 2013.
No single factor can be attributed to why craft beer is exploding across the Golden State. But it’s worth noting that California is credited with creating the craft beer movement, and the regulatory climate for entrants to the industry is actually better here than in other states, said Tom McCormick, the association’s executive director.