With tens of thousands of jobs and more than $20 billion in economic activity, there's no doubt that craft beer equals big business in the Midwest. In Michigan alone, the thriving brewing industry contributes more than $144 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $600 million.
From Bell's Brewery's Two-Hearted IPA and Oberon Ale – a personal favorite of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer – to Grand Rapids, Mich., to Three Floyd's Pear Bear in Munster, Ind., to Central Waters Brewing Company's Black Gold in Milwaukee, Wis., the Midwest's many craft beer options are familiar to beer lovers.
In fact, it's hard to find a destination in the area that doesn't have a craft brewery. There are more than 400 in Michigan, with more than 30 in the Upper Peninsula; nearly 200 in Indiana, over 100 in Iowa, and over 200 each in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Craft breweries are also a big hit nationally. The Brewers Association estimates that in 2022, the craft brewing industry contributed more than $70 billion to the US economy and supported more than 400,000 jobs.
“With a strong presence in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, even in a tough year, craft breweries are a powerful economic force at the local, state and national levels,” says Bert Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association. “As consumers continue to demand a wide range of premium, full-flavored beers, small and independent craft breweries are meeting this growing demand with innovative offerings, creating high levels of economic value in the process.”
The Home of Beer City, USA
Once upon a time, Michigan was considered anything but a homemade beer Mecca. The state had just three craft breweries in 1993, including Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo. Today, that number has grown to over 407 and counting.
In terms of the total number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks sixth in the nation, thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State”.
Grand Rapids – home to over 40 craft breweries – put Michigan and the Midwest on the craft beer map when it was named Beer City, USA in 2012. He won the award again in 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2022.
The nation has also taken notice of Michigan's brewing prowess. The Wolverine State was recently named the top state for beer lovers BetMissouri.com. BrewersAssociation.org ranked Michigan 11th in quality, 13th in quantity and sixth in affordability for a top 10 national average. Ranking 2022.
The same list ranks Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana and Iowa in the top 10.
Rise in beer tourism
There are many reasons to visit the Midwest, and beer tourism is one of the biggest drivers of economic growth. When many people think of craft beer and the best locations, they now think of the Midwest.
Craft beer tourism is what it sounds like — tourism focused on visiting breweries, beer festivals or other related activities that allow craft beer enthusiasts to sample craft brews and experience aspects of the process, including facility tours and city brewery tours .
A study he commissioned Experience Grand Rapids found that 25% of beer tourists—vacationers who cited craft beer as the main reason for their visit and who either live in or are visiting West Michigan for at least one night—came from outside the state.
The rise of craft brewery tourism across the Midwest has also led to the creation of craft beer trails, where visitors can visit dozens of participating craft breweries, pick up a passport from participating locations and collect stamps as they visit different spots.
Some of the most popular Midwest Beer Trails include:
- The Northern Indiana Beer Trail
- Quad Cities Ale Trail
- The Beloit (Wisconsin) Beer Trail
- The Southern Minnesota and North Shore Beer Trails
- Southern Illinois Beer Trail
- The Grand Rapids Beer City Ale Trail
- The Illinois Ale Trail
The Midwest's vast array of craft beers are occasionally enjoyed by craft beer enthusiasts and craft brewing enthusiasts alike for their uniqueness, variety and drinkability.
But breweries are much more than beer. Breweries, from the largest to the smallest, are all unique and distinct in their approach. They are passionate about creating great tasting, authentic beers that reflect their values and local culture.
Craft breweries throughout the Midwest are usually part of their local communities. They donate to local charities and organizations, participate in community events and create seasonal flavors and events that keep consumer interest high.
A boon to local economies
Popping the top on a cold craft beer also has a broad effect on locales economies.
Data from Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association shows the beer industry contributes $9.9 billion to Michigan's economy, as well as nearly 67,000 jobs.
In Michigan, beer industry jobs include brewing, distribution, agriculture, retail and manufacturing, accounting for $3 billion in total wages, according to the Beer Institute and NBWA.
“You're really supporting a local economy every time you buy something from a small Michigan brewery,” Trey Malone, an agricultural economist at Michigan State University, told Lansing's WKAR-AM. “And that's not necessarily the case in places like Oklahoma, where when you buy your beer there, and once the beer is bought, the dollars kind of circulate out of state. Michigan doesn't have to be like that.”
The results are similar in other Midwestern states. Wisconsin's craft beer industry contributes approximately $9 billion to the state's economy, impacting more than 62,000 jobs. The industry contributes approximately $1 billion to the state economies of Minnesota and Iowa.
In Illinois, craft breweries contribute about $3 billion to the economy and employ up to 20,000 people. The same is true in Indiana, where more than 10,000 people work in the industry and the industry generates more than $1.5 billion.
Visit a Midwest Craft Brewery
With dozens of locations and a wide range of flavors, there's never been a better time to visit a Midwest craft brewery. There are options to satisfy every taste and a brewery is the perfect place to find the local culture.
Not only can one soak up the culture at a Midwest brewery, but they can help make an economic impact. Visiting a local brewery in the Midwest keeps money in the local economy and distributes it to all those who can turn barley, yeast and hops into delicious, refreshing craft beer.
This article was created by Awesome glove and syndicate from Wealth of Geeks.
