Thank you.

To all those who make our beer, who bring us our beer, who serve us our beer: thank you.

Happy Labor Day.

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Today, don't forget to thank your local brewster!

Today, don't forget to thank your local brewster or brewer.

☞ According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 59,000 people work in breweries across the United States.

☞ The [U.S.] Brewers Association —using different methodology— finds 135,072 brewsters and brewers (and brewery and brewpub employees) working at the 6,372 "small and independent" breweries across the country.

☞ And, according to the Beer Institute —compiling data that include everyone associated with the U.S. brewing industry, directly and indirectly— the beer industry employs nearly 2.23 million Americans ...

... many of whom are working today, Labor Day, to provide your daily beer. Yeast never sleeps.

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Happy Labor Day!

The U.S. beer industry provides jobs to nearly 2.23 million Americans, contributes over $350 billion to America’s economy, and pays $63.5 billion in annual taxes.

• Brewers and importers directly employ 64,745 Americans.
• Suppliers to the brewing industry employ more than 491,800 Americans.
• Beer wholesalers directly employ more than 134,240 Americans.
• Beer retailers employ 915,700 Americans.

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And 'craft' beer?

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Labor Day

Of the Super Bowl, Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Christmas, Memorial Day, and Labor Day ... more beer is sold in the United States for Labor Day libations (off-the-premises, more than sixty million cases) than for any other holiday.

Yeast never sleeps. Your local brewster is probably hard at work today, doing her part. Support the American worker. Do your part. Drink a beer (or two). Honor Labor Day.

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The fruit of the labor of brewers

These facts and figures are from last year, but you'll get the idea. On Labor Day, enjoy a beer produced for you by American laborers, or as you might call them, brewers.

• Overall, the beer industry contributes about $252.6 billion in economic output which is equal to about 1.5 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.
• Brewers and beer importers directly employ 49,576 Americans. More than 70 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers.
• The number of distributor jobs has increased by more than 20 percent in the last decade, to more than 131,307, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Suppliers to the brewing industry – enterprises that manufacture bottles and cans, cardboard case boxes, brewing equipment or marketing displays, for example – generate more than $83 billion in economic activity and are responsible for more than 383,190 jobs alone.
• More than $48.5 billion in tax revenue is generated by the production and sale of beer and other malt beverages. This is equal to nearly 40 percent of the retail price paid for beer by consumers.

Beer Serves America

Beer Institute

July 2015.

According to the [U.S.] Brewers Association, "small and independent American craft breweries" create more than 424,000 jobs, with more than 115,000 jobs directly at breweries and brewpubs, including serving staff at brewpubs. All put, the 'craft' brewing industry contributes $55.7 billion to the U.S. economy. * Obviously, different metrics than those of the Beer Institute.

And what of that second 'tier' of the beer business, the wholesalers —the drivers who get up at 4 in the morning to get you your beer— much maligned in the 'craft' beer ambit?

• The beer distribution industry directly employs 135,000 people in the United States.
• When the impacts of distributor operations, capital investment and community involvement are considered, the total number of impact jobs exceeds 338,000.
• Beer distributors contribute a total of $70 billion in economic impact across the U.S.
• Beer distributor activities contribute nearly $13 billion to the federal, state and local tax bases. This does not include the nearly $11 billion in federal, state and local alcohol excise and consumption taxes.
• The beer distribution industry contributes more than $23 billion in transportation efficiencies for the beer industry each year.
• Beer distributor activities result in nearly $178 million in economic impacts to communities through support of charities, local events and economic development.

America’s Beer Distributors: Fueling Jobs, Generating Economic Growth & Delivering Value to Local Communities

National Beer Wholesalers of America (NBWA)

2015.

According to Nielsen, more beer is sold in the United States during the Labor Day holiday than during any other holiday of the year.† Thank you brewsters, brewers. et al.!

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