🍺 Does Beer Drive America?
An economic report says it kinda does.
It’s hard not to get down on the trends of the beverage industry.
Reports continue to show Americans drinking less and companies selling less. Saturday Sips recently detailed the sad down year of craft beer in 2024.
But it’s also important to note, even with the decline of recent years, beer is still an American economic powerhouse.
The Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association released their Beer Serves America economic report this week. (Editor’s Note: There is a fun interactive infographic!)
The report highlights the $471 billion economic output, or 1.58% of US GDP, that beer contributes to the country.
“While the national economy sees highs and lows, the beer industry is a steady, reliable source of jobs and economic activity for communities throughout the country,” NBWA VP of Analytics and Chief Economist Lester Jones said. “When you crack open your favorite cold one, you’re supporting the beer industry that consistently contributes about 1.6% of Gross Domestic Product and employs more than 2.4 million people.
“That is a truly remarkable contribution year after year, and certainly worth raising a glass to.”
It’s not just at the brewing facilities, it’s all the supply chain before and after the beer is made. That includes 1.6% of US agriculture jobs.
“Beer supports jobs across the entire supply chain—from the farmers who grow barley and hops, to the brewers who craft it, to the distributors who deliver it to the places where we enjoy it,” Beer Institute Chief Economist Andrew Heritage said.
While Beer Serves America largely considers major breweries, distributors, and retailers, it also includes those amazing neighborhood breweries that have popped up all across the nation.
So take a break this weekend and grab a pint at your favorite brewery.
📖 Interesting reads
Last week, Sovereignty won the Kentucky Derby (shout out to second place Journalism!). And while the rain dampened attendance at Churchill Downs, I think they still made A LOT of Mint Juleps. My old employer, Front Office Sports, broke down the math last week.
Love them or hate them, Mint Juleps are definitely near the top, if not the top, of sporting event signature drinks. The Athletic took a stab at ranking them, including Wimbledon’s Pimms Cup, the US Open’s Honey Deuce and The Masters The Azalea.
California agave spirits (similar to tequila… but not, because it’s not made in Jalisco, Mexico!) is taking off, according to the NY Times.
Speaking of tequila, a new book is out that I’ll be picking up soon, “Tequila Wars: Jose Cuervo and the Bloody Struggle for the Spirit of Mexico.” The Wall Street Journal reviews here.
Vinepair dives into the bet that beverage companies are making that vodka lemonade RTDs are the drink of the summer. I do love them, particularly when mixed with iced tea! (The non-carbonated nature of them does make them fantastic for the golf course! Reminder to check out Saturday Sips’s sister publication, Michigan Golf Review.)
🍾 What we’re drinking
Speaking of vodka lemonade and hard iced tea RTDs, I’ve been a big fan of the Surfside, which exploded last year, as well as Sun Cruiser and Lipton, the legendary tea maker.
When whipping up margaritas last week, I used some excellent tequila from Milagro.