Double-Digit Growth for Craft Brewers in 2006

From the Brewers Association website:

11.7% — Double-Digit Growth for Craft Brewers in 2006

Boulder, CO – February 20, 2007 –
The continuing growth of craft beer entered double-digit territory in 2006, with sales by craft brewers up 11.7% by volume for the year. This comes on top of strong growth in each of the prior three years and illustrates the ongoing surge of consumer interest in craft beers.

This translates to over 6.6 million barrels.

Growth of the craft brewery industry was 9% in 2005, 7% in 2004, 3% in 2003. As comparison, total US-produced beer sales were up by only 0.4% in 2006, while imports increased by 14.6%. (These last two figures are from the Beer Institute.)

• More on craft beer sales.
• What is the definition of a craft brewery?