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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rolling out the craft barrels

Rick Bonino

The craft beer revolution just keeps on rolling, according to new numbers from the Brewers Association.

The trade group announced today that production nationwide increased by 16 percent during the first six months of 2015 compared to the same period last year, from 10.6 million barrels to 12.2 million.

And the number of operating breweries was up a whopping 23 percent, to 3,739 – a gain of 699 over the previous year, and twice the total just four years ago.

There’s no sign of that slowing down anytime soon. Another 1,755 breweries are in planning stages across the country, the Brewers Association reports.

“By supporting local, small and independent craft breweries, beer lovers are gradually returning the United States to the system of localized beer production that existed for much of our nation’s history,” said Bart Watson, chief economist for the association.