Category shows 18% growth
According to Ray Daniels, Director of Craft Beer Marketing at the Brewers Association, Information Resources Inc. data shows that the craft beer segment has grown nearly 17% in the first 9 months of this year versus the same period last year.
During that same period, the overall beer category grew 1.9% while imports were up 10% versus last year.
IRI’s data for previous years show growth of 8%, 5% and 2.3% for 2005, 2004 and 2003 respectively.
The most popular craft styles (with dollar share of total craft):
Pale Ale (17.9%)
Seasonal beers (12.5%)
Amber Ale (11.2%)
Amber Lager (11.0%)
Wheat Beers (8.8%)
IPA (6.1%)
Others (32.5%)
Fastest growing of these:
Seasonal beers, with dollar sales up 31% over last year
IPAs up 27.5%
Wheat beers up 25%