Guild: Craft beer makers poured $2.4 billion into Ore. economy
Oregon’s 110 brewing companies generated $2.44 billion in economic activity in 2011 as production topped 1.1 million barrels.
The Oregon Brewers Guild painted a happy portrait of soaring demand for Oregon-made craft brews, leading local breweries to expand production by 7.5 percent in 2011.
“When an increased number of Oregonians choose Oregon beer over other options, we need more farmers to grow hops and barley, brewers buy more equipment, open breweries and hire new employees,” said Brian Butenschoen, executive director.
The guild said the industry directly employs 5,500 people and supports more than 25,000 jobs, the Portland Business Journal reported.
Other highlights:
- $270 million: Value of retail sales of Oregon-made beer sold in Oregon
- 15.8 percent: Percentage of the 2.7 million barrels of beer consumed in Oregon that were made in Oregon.
- 42.8 percent: Percentage of draft beer consumed in Oregon that was made in Oregon.
- 10.7 percent: Increase in consumption of Oregon craft beer over 2010, or the equivalent of an additional 429,000 barrels.
The brewers guild is a nonprofit trade association serving independent breweries. The Oregon industry consists of 110 brewing companies that operate 145 brewing facilities in 58 cities; 49 are in Portland.
The Portland Business Journal is a KATU.com news partner.
I'm glad I'm doing my part to support Oregon's economy.
2.5 billion, huh? Time was when it was illegal to make your own beer...well...time was when it was illegal to buy, sell or possess beer 'cause, ya know, booze is bad.
we glorify and worship one of the greatest killers of all time...booze. we like the money it generates. well why mess around then? make all drugs legal, the nation could be out of debt in 20 years and there would be a lot less people too.  win-win
Two other greatest killers of our time include deep fried foods and salt. Have a Coke and a smile; you deserve a break today.
 @Joel VanHalen Humans glorify and worship it because we have existed with liquor since well before 5400 BC. We have always abused it (Greeks had made light of those who had died "suddenly" from liquor poisoning) and will continue to abuse it.  Because of the longtime use of liquor the creation of it has become an artform in its own right. Your idea of clumping a brewmaster in with a petty drug runner is a little offensive!
@MHarris yes it has become an artform. look at rhe evolution of making meth too. i dont give a rats what you think , i simply am saying booze kills every day, if you were looking down from some other planet, you would wonder wtf was wrong with us. Â
Oh my God did they build a bottling plant
and trimet took 24% of that
Better hope that the Governor doesn't read about this. He'll figure out away to increase taxes on this industry to prop up his socialist agenda.
 @Rob C They have only been trying to raise the beer tax for 12 years that I know of. It is so low (lowest in the nation) that even the Republican controlled legislature under Speaker Karen Minnis tried to raise it to help with the recession of 2001-2003.