THE SUMMER OF BEER

BEER HAS CERTAINLY seen its share of struggles over the last few years but nothing rejuvenates like the summer. In the 15 weeks between Memorial Day and Labor Day in 2O13, beer and malt beverage sales topped $11 billion, making it one of the largest selling categories of all food and beverage channels. Projections for 2O14 put sales on track to beat that number. Beer means big business for communities across the country. According to an economic study jointly commissioned by the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association, US brewers and beer importers support an industry that puts more than 2 million Americans to work. Beer also contributed $246.6 billion to the nation’s economy and generated $49 billion in local, state and federal taxes. In fact, more than 4O percent of what consumers pay for a beer goes to taxes, making taxes the most expensive ingredient in beer today. For more information visit BeerServesAmerica.org.