PORTLAND, OR. – The Oregon Brewers Guild announced that the states breweries crafted 1,085,000 barrels (or roughly 270 million pints) of beer during 2010, a 3.5 percent increase from the previous year. Roughly 14.4 percent of the 2.7 million barrels of all beer — both bottled and draft — consumed in the state were made in Oregon. This is the highest for any state in the United States and was a 16 percent increase from 2009.
“Our industry made impressive gains in 2010 — especially in the amount of beer made in Oregon that was consumed in Oregon,” said Brian Butenschoen, Executive Director of the Oregon Brewers Guild. “The economic impact of the brewing industry is felt beyond just the breweries. A strong production year supports local businesses supplying the industry, including barley growers, hop farmers, yeast ranchers and glass producers.”
In addition, Oregon’s 81 brewing companies donated product and money equal to more than $1.23 million to local non-profits in 2010. Retail sales of Oregon-made beer sold in the state totaled approximately $235 million in 2010. In total, the brewing industry contributes $2.44 billion to the state’s economy. Despite overall weak employment figures for the year in Oregon, the state’s brewing companies added 200 jobs in 2010 and directly employed more than 4,900 people.
Portland, Oregon currently has 40 breweries within its city limits, more than any other city in the world. The state of Oregon has 91 brewing companies operating 121 brewing facilities in 50 cities.