Per the TTB, the beer industry reached an all-time high in permitted breweries in 2016 with 7,190 total permits. California and Florida now have more permitted breweries than the other 48 states had throughout much of the 90s. Per-capita consumption of beer, however, has continued its small but steady yearly decline.
The NBWA reports that “the TTB has lowered barriers to entry for new brewers by extending due dates for payment of excise taxes, and has eliminated the excise tax bond requirements for brewers making less than 7,000 bottles a year.” Craft breweries should expect increased competition as new, smaller brewers take advantage of the newly lightened entry costs.
Source: NBWA, January 2017