According to the Brewers Association, the number of operating craft-beer makers in the United States increased by 906 between the BA’s 2016 mid-year report and the 2017 report, from 4,656 to 5,562. That total represents the all-time highest number of these breweries in the nation.

All told, craft brewers produced 5% more beer, by volume, over the course of the fiscal year. This is attributed to the maturation of the craft-beer industry, a growing base of patrons, and recent favorable legislation at the state level.

The BA defines a craft-beer brewery as one that uses traditional brewing methods, is independently owned, and brews less than 6 million barrels of beer a year. The report includes information through June 30 of the year and typically is published a month later, on August 1.

The 2017 BA report added that more than 2,700 additional craft breweries were in the planning stage as of June 30, 2017. Independent US breweries employ nearly 129,000 full-time and part-time workers

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