National Beer Day, held annually on April 7, marks the beginning of the end of Prohibition. But this year, perhaps more Americans than ever will celebrate with non-alcoholic beer.
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In tribute to National Beer Day, which will be available on Sunday, April 7th.
This date commemorates a major event in beer history, so it's a good excuse to pop into the summit – and take stock of what's happening now in beer.
National Beer Day marked the beginning of the end of Prohibition in 1933. On April 7, 1933, the Cullen-Harrison Act, signed by President Franklin Roosevelt, went into effect, allowing people to purchase and drink beer with a lower alcohol content. Wine in public places. Prohibition would be completely repealed in December 1933, when the Twenty-First Amendment was ratified.
Over the following decades, beer in the United States grew beyond major breweries such as Anheuser-Busch, Coors, and Miller Brewing Co. – And don't forget the oldest brewery in the country, Yuenglingwhich remains a family-owned company.
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The emergence of independent craft breweries has grown, thanks in part to… Signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 A law allowing beer to be brewed at home. Some home brewers have gone on to create popular breweries including Boston Beer Company, Brooklyn Brewery, Dogfish Head BreweryAnd Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Here's a look at how beer tastes are changing in the United States
Modelo still reigns supreme after dethroning Bud Light
Modelo Especial remains the top-selling beer in the U.S., and its sales are up 12% so far in 2024, compared to last year, according to Bump Williams Consulting. The Chilton, Connecticut company serves the alcoholic beverage industry and its uses fussy Track retail sales data at selected supermarkets and liquor stores.
Modelo Especial overtook Bud Light in May 2023 amid backlash from conservative consumers after the Bud Light brand teamed up with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney to promote a March Madness contest. This year, Bud Light sales are down 28% compared to last year.
The best-selling beer in the United States
- Special model
- bud light
- Michelob Ultra
- Corse light
- Corona extra
- Miller Lite
- A type of American beer
- Bush light
- Natural light
- Original Heineken
Source: NIQ, annual sales of all off-premises outlets, week ending March 23, 2024.
Non-alcoholic beer sales continue to rise
This National Beer Day, more drinkers may be splurging on non-alcoholic beer than ever before. Sales of non-alcoholic beer have increased 32.6% so far this year, according to sales tracking firm NIQ.
Non-alcoholic beer sales are strongest in supermarkets (up 35.5%), where they account for 3% of total beer sales, Dave Williams told USA TODAY. Corona, Blue Moon and Guinness are among the recent big names entering the non-alcoholic beer category, he said.
Non-alcoholic beer “has remained a consistent driver of growth within beer,” Williams said. “I'm not sure we've quite reached saturation point as there's still a lot of ground to cover from a market distribution standpoint, but competition is heating up as the 'big boys' all get ready to play.”
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Salute to the 10 winners of USA TODAY's 2024 Top 10 Readers' Choice Awards for Best Beer Festival.
10 the best
The number of breweries in the United States is approaching 10,000
The number of breweries in the United States has increased from 93 in 1982 to 9,709 in 2022. Most (9,552) are regional breweries, microbreweries, taprooms, and brewpubs.
In 2023, 420 new breweries opened, while 385 closed, according to the report. Beer Association.
But slowing demand for beer and increasing competition from other products such as ready-to-drink hard soft drinks and cocktails could make it difficult to reach the 10,000 brewery mark.
The amount of beer sold in the United States fell 3% in 2022, the most recent year available from the Brewer's Association. The trade group says the price increases pushed sales to $115 billion in 2022, up from about $100 billion in 2021.
Craft beer sales increased 5% to $28.4 billion in 2022. The association says beer made by independent breweries represents more than 13% by volume of beer sold in the United States. But craft beer production will likely decline in 2023, the association's chief economist, Bart Watson, said in a report. End of year presentation.
The price of beer at home rose 3% in February 2024 at about the same rate as all items, according to the Labor Department's Consumer Price Index. But beer prices rose higher than the prices of alcoholic beverages as a whole (2.4%).
Best selling craft beer
- Blue Moon Belgian White Ale
- New Belgium Voodoo Imperial Guard IPA
- New Belgian Voodoo Ranger IPA
- The Sierra Nevada is a fuzzy little thing
- Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
- Shiner Book
- Lagunitas IPA
- Elysian Space Dust IPA
- Samuel Adams Seasonal
- Kona Big Wave Golden Ill
Source: NIQ, annual sales of all off-premises outlets, week ending March 23, 2024.
Follow Mike Snyder on X and Threads: @mikesnider & com.micegsnider.
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