Craft Beer in Oregon Still in Expansion Mode

Monday, April 13, 2015

Jesse Cornett, GoLocalPDX

In concert with the Craft Brewer’s Conference converging on Portland, the Oregon Brewers Guild announced 2014 craft beer sales numbers. Good news: sales were up (again). Last year Oregonians bought 585,000 barrels (a barrel is equal to two full sized kegs) of beer produced in Oregon, a nearly fifteen percent increase over the previous year. Additionally, in 2014 overall production of Oregon beer was up by seventeen percent, a number that is consistent with the national average.

“The numbers don’t lie, Oregon Craft Beer is #1” said Brian Butenschoen, executive director of the Oregon Brewers Guild. “20 percent of the beer sold in Oregon is craft beer made in Oregon. We were the first state to reach this milestone goal. We also added 800 new jobs in Oregon, a 12 percent increase over the same quarter in the previous year. ”

While some are concerned this level of growth cannot be sustained, only eleven percent of the total volume of beer brewed in the United States in 2014 was from a craft brewer.

The Brewers Guild Also noted that a new milestone was met in 2014. Fully 20 percent of the beer — both bottled and draft — consumed in Oregon was brewed here. For draft beer, that percentage is three times higher, with Oregon breweries producing an estimated 60.0 percent of all draft beer consumed in Oregon!

The Brewers Guild wisely points out, it’s not just about how much we brew and drink here, but exports, both domestically and internationally that help drive the health industry. Oregon brewers shipped over a million barrels outside the state in 2014. 22,000 barrels were exported to 32 countries around the world.

In 2014 Oregon had 220 breweries operated by 179 brewing companies in 71 cities, including 58 within the Portland city limits. The brewing industry contributes $2.83 billion to the state’s economy and employs roughly 30,000 people directly and indirectly. Oregon’s breweries not only help drive Oregon’s economy, but the Brewer’s Guild also reports they contributed $2,450,000 in product and cash to local causes.

Related Slideshow: 9 Of Portland’s Top Brewers

Here's a look at 9 of Portland's top brewerers and their best creations.

All photos are courtesy of the breweries.

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Jason McAdam, Burnside Brewing Company

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Doug Rehberg, Widmer Brothers Brewing

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Mike Wright, The Commons Brewery

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Alan Taylor, Pints Brewing

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Ben Love and and Van Havig

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John Harris, Ecliptic Brewing

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Ben Edmunds, Breakside Brewery

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Christian Ettinger, Hopworks Urban Brewery

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Alex Ganum, Upright Brewing

Alex Ganum at Upright Brewing is another chain brewery expatriate and opened shop in the basement of the Left Bank Annex in 2009. Upright Brewing “specializes in farmhouse inspired beers rooted in France and Belgium but made with a Pacific Northwest twist, while also dabbling in both classic and quirky projects from around the world.” Their limited taproom hours includes before each home Blazers game.

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