Drinking Decline

A Sip of Reality

Once upon a time, Americans embraced drinking like a rite of passage. But as of August 2025, just 54% of U.S. adults report drinking alcohol—the lowest rate since Gallup started tracking in 1939 (Sources: The Washington PostAxios). What’s behind this sober shift? Rising health awareness is the main driver: 53% now believe that even moderate drinking is harmful—up dramatically from just 28% in 2015 (Sources: AP NewsThe Washington Post).

Generation Z: Raising Glasses Less, Living More

The steepest declines are happening among younger adults and teens. Among 18–34-year-olds, alcohol use dropped from 59% in 2023 to 50% in 2025 (Sources: The Washington Post). And while it’s not the sole factor, lifestyle choices like health-first habits, social media influences, and “sober curiosity” are reshaping how people unwind (Sources: TIME Wikipedia).

Teen Drinking: A Dramatic Retreat

Perhaps most striking: only 42% of 12th graders reported drinking alcohol in 2024, down from 75% in 1997. Tenth graders dropped to 26% (from 65%), and eighth graders to 13% (from 46%) (Sources: Vox). The Monitoring the Future survey also confirms widespread declines in teen use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana (Sources: People.com).

Health Wins Across the Board

This trend isn’t just a cultural shift—it’s a public health victory. About 4,000 under-21 Americans die every year from issues tied to excessive alcohol use—ranging from car crashes to suicides and drownings (Sources: Vox McLean Hospital.) Reduced teen drinking directly corresponds to fewer serious accidents and long-term addiction risks.

Moreover, even moderate drinking carries serious health risks. It’s been increasingly discredited as harmless or beneficial—in fact, experts now state there’s no safe level of alcohol consumption (Sources: Vox Wikipedia). Risks span cancers (breast, colorectal, liver, esophageal), high blood pressure, poor sleep, and more (Sources: Vox Wikipedia).

The Social Squeeze

Still, not all trends are celebratory. Some experts warn that this decline might be symptomatic of a deeper issue: Americans are socializing less, and alcohol, in moderation, has traditionally served as a social lubricant (Sources: Vox).

Why It Matters

As voices for beer lovers, we’re not here to shame alcohol. Instead, this shift invites us to reimagine beer culture with more intentionality—champion smarter drinking, highlight non-alcoholic alternatives, and spotlight experiences that don’t revolve around getting tipsy.

The Takeaway

• Americans are drinking less overall, with only 54% consuming alcohol.

• More people now view even moderate drinking as unhealthy.

• Teen drinking has plummeted, delivering clear public health gains.

• Though moderation is key, any amount of alcohol carries risk.

• The decline also raises deeper questions about social isolation.

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We are also now on BlueSky as well, so make sure to check us out there also. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server).

We also now have a SLACK channel – which acts as a hybrid chat room, message board, Reddit style; workspace and posting area for us. You can hang out with us there and chat about all kinds of things – not just beer, but “off topic” things like movies, TV, books, podcasts, hiking, sports, and more! Join us at: The Beer Thrillers on SLACK.

We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written. The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of May 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

As the craft beer movement continues to surge across the United States, you might be wondering: Which state has the most breweries? Whether you’re a beer tourist mapping your next hop-filled road trip or just a numbers nerd (like us) who loves stats with their suds, we’ve got the definitive breakdown.

Thanks to recently updated data from Poidata.io, we now have the most accurate brewery count for every U.S. state—and Washington D.C.—as of July 2025.

A chart of the states of USA and their total number of breweries, as of July 2025

Top States for Breweries in 2025

Here are some of the highlights:

• California continues its reign as the craft beer king with a staggering 1,491 breweries.

• New York holds second with 724, followed closely by Pennsylvania with 678.

• Florida makes a strong showing at 611, pushing past Texas.

• Washington D.C., while small in size, still boasts a modest 26 breweries, proving good things come in small batches.

Full List: Breweries by State (2025)

Here’s a state-by-state breakdown, including D.C., sorted by total brewery count:

Visualization: U.S. Breweries by State

To help you digest this massive list, here’s a chart displaying the number of breweries in each state, sorted from most to least:

A chart of the states of USA and their total number of breweries, as of July 2025

Bonus: What About Canada?

We couldn’t forget our neighbors to the north! As of July 2025, Canada has approximately 1,412 breweries, with the biggest concentrations in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.

Final Thoughts

The craft beer industry shows no signs of slowing down. While some states are leading the charge, every state in the U.S.—even the smallest—is home to passionate brewers and innovative taprooms. Whether you’re in Vermont or Vegas, there’s a pint waiting for you.

What state do you think has the most underrated beer scene? Drop your thoughts in the comments or tag us on social media!

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We are also now on BlueSky as well, so make sure to check us out there also. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server).

We also now have a SLACK channel – which acts as a hybrid chat room, message board, Reddit style; workspace and posting area for us. You can hang out with us there and chat about all kinds of things – not just beer, but “off topic” things like movies, TV, books, podcasts, hiking, sports, and more! Join us at: The Beer Thrillers on SLACK.

We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written. The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of May 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

]]> 16481 https://thebeerthrillers.com/2025/02/01/the-most-popular-brewery-in-each-state-as-per-perplexity-ai/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-most-popular-brewery-in-each-state-as-per-perplexity-ai Sat, 01 Feb 2025 20:32:48 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=15990 The Most Popular Brewery in Each State as per Perplexity AI

Most Popular Breweries by State as per Perplexity

Taking a look at the most popular brewery in each state can be a bit difficult. But thankfully with AI, we can quick pin down things a bit more succinctly. So I fired up the old Perplexity AI machine, and threw it the commands of “what is the most popular brewery in each state” and then gave it the caveats of using Untappd data, sales data, online mentions, and variables such as website recommendations and such.

And here’s what it gave us:

Most Popular Brewery in Each State as of February 2025

Notes: A few notes I’d like to point out. Wicked Weed Brewing is listed twice – North and South Carolina. Yuengling Brewery is listed for Texas; where they do technically have a brewery production center. And 3 Floyds is also listed twice – Indiana and Virginia.

Sources

• Perplexity AI for creating the list
• Untappd for data purposes
• Reddit: Untappd Most Popular Breweries By State
• Statista: Number of craft beer breweries in the United States, by state 
• Brewer’s Association: State Craft Beer Sales & Production Statistics
• Beer Connoisseur: All 50 States Ranked for Beer
• Alcohol.org: Largest Craft Brewery in Each State
• Brewers Association: Brewers Association Releases Annual Craft Brewing Industry Production Report and Top 50 Producing Craft Brewing Companies
• Business Insider: The best brewery in every state, according to Yelp (and Yelp)
• Beer Advocate: MAP of All 50 States and Breweries Ranked

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• The Top 10 Craft Breweries With the Most 5 Star Check-Ins On Untappd (2023)
• The Top 10 Most Checked-In Countries Outside the U.S. in 2023 via Untappd
• Untappd: Top 10 Breweries in Pennsylvania for 2023
• Pouring Excellence: Pennsylvania’s Top Craft Breweries of 2023
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• Top 10 Breweries in The United States – Halfway Through 2024 (as per Untappd)
• Top Popular Beer Brands
• Top 10 Craft Beers in New England: A Guide to the Must-Try Brews
• Best Cities for Beer Lovers: Top Spots for Drinkers and Breweries in the U.S.
• Sipping on the Edge: Exploring the Top 5 Highest ABV Beers
• List of Pennsylvania Breweries
• Brewery ARS Named in The 30 Best Breweries In The Country Right Now List
• Von C Brewing Has Been Named To Men’s Journal List of Best Breweries You Haven’t Heard Of
• The Battle of the Breweries: 2025 – Competitor’s List

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We are also now on BlueSky as well, so make sure to check us out there also. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

Craft beer enthusiasts, rejoice! As we dive into the exciting world of beer in 2025, it’s time to elevate your tasting experience and discover new flavor horizons. This comprehensive guide will take you on a journey through the art of beer tasting, helping you appreciate the nuances of your favorite brews like never before.

An IPA with hops at a craft brewery’s bar

Understanding Beer Styles

Before we delve into tasting techniques, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with various beer styles. From crisp lagers to hoppy IPAs and rich stouts, each style offers a unique flavor profile. In 2025, we’re seeing a resurgence of traditional styles alongside innovative hybrid creations.

The Five Steps of Beer Tasting

1. Appearance

Examine the beer’s color, clarity, and head retention. Is it golden, amber, or pitch black? Is the foam thick and creamy or thin and dissipating?

2. Aroma

Swirl the beer gently and take a deep sniff. Identify notes of hops, malt, yeast, and any additional ingredients like fruit or spices.

3. Taste

Take a sip and let it coat your entire palate. Notice the initial flavors, how they evolve, and the aftertaste.

4. Mouthfeel

Pay attention to the beer’s body. Is it light and crisp or full and creamy? Does it have high carbonation or a smooth, velvety texture?

5. Overall Impression

Reflect on how all these elements come together. Does the beer meet your expectations for its style? Is it balanced and enjoyable?

Enhancing Your Tasting Skills

To truly master the art of beer tasting, consider these tips:

• Use proper glassware: Different glass shapes can enhance specific beer styles.

• Serve at the right temperature: Too cold can mute flavors, while too warm can overemphasize certain notes.

• Cleanse your palate: Use water or crackers between tastings to reset your taste buds.

• Take notes: Keep a tasting journal to track your experiences and preferences.

Exploring Beer and Food Pairings

In 2025, the art of pairing beer with food has reached new heights. Experiment with these classic combinations:

• IPA with spicy cuisine

• Stout with chocolate desserts

• Wheat beer with light salads and seafood

• Belgian ales with rich, creamy cheeses

The Future of Craft Beer

As we look ahead, the craft beer scene continues to evolve. Keep an eye out for these trends:

• Sustainable brewing practices

• Low-alcohol and non-alcoholic craft options

• Locally-sourced ingredients and terroir-driven beers

• Innovative aging techniques and barrel programs

By honing your tasting skills and staying informed about the latest trends, you’ll be well-equipped to fully appreciate the diverse and exciting world of craft beer in 2025 and beyond. Cheers to your tasting adventures!

Back in 2023 we covered the rise of Non-Alcoholic beers (The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Beer: A Guide to the Best Non Alcoholic Brews) and in the time since then, the non-alcoholic craft beer (and beer and other drinks as well) market has only boomed. So I felt like it was time to expand the original article and show how the trends have changed (or mostly in this case just exploded) and just how popular this market has become.

Non-alcoholic beer has continued its meteoric rise, with the market expected to expand by 4% volume CAGR through 2028. This growth is driven by increasing health consciousness, changing social norms, and significant improvements in taste and variety. Let’s explore the latest trends and top picks for non-alcoholic beers in 2025.

A non-alcoholic soda that Amy got while we were at Forbes Trail Brewing Company

Market Trends

Expanding Availability

Non-alcoholic beer is becoming increasingly accessible. In the UK, 86% of pubs now offer a no-or-low beer option, with draught options expected to grow significantly. Major airlines have also started carrying NA beer, expanding its reach to new consumers.

Non Alcoholic Beer Growth in the Market (graph courtesy of The Business Research Company)

The trend of expanding availability is particularly evident in the airline industry, with multiple carriers introducing non-alcoholic beer options. JetBlue became the first major U.S. airline to offer non-alcoholic beer on domestic flights, partnering with Athletic Brewing to serve their Upside Dawn Golden ale. Similarly, Alaska Airlines has introduced Best Day Brewing’s Kölsch as a complimentary option in premium classes. The growth extends beyond airlines and pubs, with retail sales showing significant momentum. According to recent data, dollar sales for non-alcoholic beer increased by 29.2%, reaching nearly $368.7 million, while case sales were up 20.3%. This expansion is driven by increasing consumer demand for healthier beverage alternatives and more inclusive drinking options, signaling a broader cultural shift towards non-alcoholic alternatives.

Non Alcoholic Projections (graph courtesy of 360iReport)

Technological Advancements

Brewing technology has made significant strides, addressing previous issues with bland or off-flavors. Innovations in yeast strains, vacuum distillation, and membrane filtration have allowed brewers to create non-alcoholic beers that closely mimic their alcoholic counterparts.

Mainstream Acceptance

Amy enjoying a non-alcoholic Saison while I got the flight at RAR

Non-alcoholic beer is no longer viewed as a niche product. Large breweries and craft players alike are expanding their non-alcoholic offerings, with some even creating zero-proof versions of their flagship beers. Social acceptance has grown, with surveys indicating that consumers increasingly view non-alcoholic beer as “cool” or “respectable”.

Top Non-Alcoholic Beer Brands to Try in 2025

1. Go Brewing’s New School Sour
2. Sober Carpenter’s IPA lineup
3. Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA
4. Heineken 0.0
5. Leffe 0.0 (AB InBev)
6. Coors Edge (Molson Coors)
7. Guinness 0.0
8. Brooklyn Special Effects
9. Clausthaler Classic
10. Erdinger Alkoholfrei

(See our beer review: Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA)

If you would like to see Let Us Drink Beer’s List of Top 2021 Non-Alcoholic Beers, you can go here:

• Best Non-Alcoholic Beers of 2021

Craft Breweries Embracing Non-Alcoholic Beer

Craft breweries have finally embraced the non-alcoholic trend, leveraging new brewing and de-alcoholizing technologies to create flavorful options. This shift has expanded the variety and quality of non-alcoholic craft beers available to consumers.

Health and Wellness Focus

The non-alcoholic beer market is benefiting from the growing focus on fitness and wellness. These beers offer a way for health-conscious individuals to enjoy the taste of beer without the negative effects of alcohol. Many brands are also developing lower-calorie and “better-for-you” options to cater to this demographic.

Sustainability in Non-Alcoholic Brewing

Sustainability has become a crucial aspect of the beer industry, including non-alcoholic options. Consumers increasingly favor brands that demonstrate responsible brewing practices, such as using solar power, adopting local sourcing, or implementing “farm-to-glass” ingredient strategies.

The Future of Non-Alcoholic Beer

As we move through 2025, the non-alcoholic beer market is poised for continued growth and innovation. With improving taste profiles, expanding distribution, and changing consumer preferences, non-alcoholic beer is cementing its place as a mainstream beverage option. Whether you’re participating in Dry January, looking for healthier alternatives, or simply enjoy the taste without the alcohol, there’s never been a better time to explore the world of non-alcoholic beer.

Non-alcoholic beer is a great option for those who are looking to cut back on their alcohol consumption or simply want to try something new. With a wide variety of flavors and brands available, there’s a non-alcoholic beer out there for everyone. Consider trying one of our top picks to experience the flavor and refreshment of beer without the alcohol. Cheers to healthier drinking habits!

See our previous article written in 2023 – The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Beer: A Guide to the Best Non Alcoholic Brews (2023).

Take a look at non-alcoholic beers and craft sodas from Amy’s perspective from her nearly year long hiatus from drinking (due to being pregnant with Scarlet) here: I’ve Missed Drinking (A Look at Non Alcoholic Beers).

You can also read back on Let Us Drink Beer‘s guest post where he details The Best Non-Alcoholic Beers of 2021 by going here: Best Non-Alcoholic Beers of 2021.

More Articles on Non-Alcoholic Beverages

• The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Beer: A Guide to the Best Non Alcoholic Brews
• Best Non-Alcoholic Beers of 2021
• Surly Releasing Outlook Good Hoppy Non-Alcoholic
• Sierra Nevada’s Trail Pass Non-Alcoholic Beer

Some Popular Articles

• Human Robot – Milk Tube – What is the Milko Pour?
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• The Trip to Indianapolis: Day One: 1000 Steps Trail, Juniata Brewing Company, Ghost Town Trail, Hoodlebug, Levity Brewing
• Hike: Hawk Rock (Duncannon, Pennsylvania)
• LoveDraft’s Brewery Sabotaged
• Beer Review: Hershey’s Chocolate Porter (Yuengling Brewery)

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We are also now on BlueSky as well, so make sure to check us out there also. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

In recent years, the craft beer industry has transformed from a niche market into a significant economic powerhouse. The year 2024 marked a milestone for this burgeoning sector, with craft breweries contributing an impressive $77.1 billion to the US economy. This figure not only represents the direct output of breweries but also encompasses the ripple effects felt across various related industries. Let’s dive deeper into the numbers and explore the far-reaching impact of craft beer on the American economic landscape.

The beer industry provided 77.1$ Billion to the US Economy in 2024

Breaking Down the Numbers

The $77.1 billion economic contribution is a testament to the craft beer industry’s robust growth and widespread influence. This figure includes:

1. Direct brewery output

2. Wholesale and retail sales

3. Induced economic activity in related sectors

It’s important to note that this number represents more than just the sale of beer. It accounts for the entire ecosystem that the craft beer industry supports and stimulates.

Job Creation: More Than Just Brewers

One of the most significant impacts of the craft beer industry is its role in job creation. In 2024, the sector supported approximately 460,000 jobs across the nation. These jobs span a wide range of fields, including:

• Brewing and production

• Distribution and logistics

• Retail and hospitality

• Agriculture (hops and grain farming)

• Packaging and equipment manufacturing

This diverse job market demonstrates how the craft beer industry’s influence extends far beyond the walls of breweries themselves.

Jobs at breweries

The Multiplier Effect: Supporting Local Economies

Craft breweries have become anchors in many local economies, particularly in small towns and rural areas. The “multiplier effect” of craft breweries is substantial:

• For every job created in a brewery, an estimated 30 additional jobs are supported in related industries.

• Local farmers benefit from increased demand for hops, barley, and other brewing ingredients.

• Tourism often flourishes in areas with thriving craft beer scenes, boosting local hospitality and retail sectors.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The craft beer industry is known for its spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. In 2024, this trend continued with:

• New brewing techniques and styles being developed

• Increased focus on sustainable practices and locally-sourced ingredients

• Collaborations between breweries and other local businesses

This culture of innovation not only drives economic growth but also fosters a sense of community and local pride.

The economics of beer

Challenges and Future Outlook

Despite its impressive growth, the craft beer industry faced challenges in 2024:

• Increased competition in a saturated market

• Rising costs of raw materials

• Regulatory hurdles in some states

However, the industry’s resilience and adaptability suggest a positive outlook for the future. Many breweries have diversified their offerings, expanded into new markets, and embraced e-commerce to stay competitive.

The Broader Impact on American Culture

Beyond the numbers, craft beer has had a profound impact on American culture:

• It has revitalized interest in traditional brewing methods and styles

• Craft beer festivals and tasting events have become popular social gatherings

• The industry has sparked a renewed appreciation for artisanal and locally-produced goods

Beer and taxes and information on the economics of beer

Craft Beer Industry: A Two-Year Comparison (2023-2024)

The craft beer industry has experienced significant changes over the past three years. Let’s examine the key metrics and trends from 2022 to 2024:

Production Volume

• 2023: The industry produced 23.4 million barrels of beer, a 1% decline from 2022.

• 2024: Estimated 2% decline in production volume compared to 2023.

This data shows a continuing downward trend in production volume, with the decline accelerating slightly in 2024.

Number of Breweries

• 2023: 9,339 active craft breweries as of June 2023.

• 2024: 9,358 active craft breweries as of June 2024.

Despite challenges, the number of craft breweries has slightly increased year-over-year.

Economic Contribution

• 2023: The craft beer industry contributed $77.1 billion to the U.S. economy.

• 2024: The industry’s economic contribution reached $77.1 billion.

The economic impact remained stable from 2023 to 2024, demonstrating the industry’s resilience despite production challenges.

Market Share

• 2023: Craft beer increased its market share to 13.3% of the overall beer market.

• 2024: Specific market share not provided, but the slight decline in production suggests a potential small decrease in market share.

Employment

• 2023: The industry supported nearly 460,000 jobs nationwide.

• 2024: The industry continued to support nearly 460,000 jobs.

Employment in the craft beer industry has remained stable over the past two years.

Industry Challenges

• 2023: Recovery from pandemic impacts, but faced with new hurdles in costs and competition.

• 2024: Continued challenges with inflation, pricing concerns, and competition from other beverage categories like RTD cocktails.

The comparison reveals that while the craft beer industry has faced consistent challenges over the past three years, it has shown resilience in maintaining its economic impact and employment levels. However, the declining production volumes suggest that the industry is still navigating a complex and competitive market landscape.

Conclusion: A Frothy Future for Craft Beer

The $77.1 billion contribution to the US economy in 2024 is more than just a number—it’s a reflection of the craft beer industry’s integral role in American economic and cultural life. From job creation to community building, the impact of craft breweries extends far beyond the bottom of a glass. As we look to the future, the craft beer industry’s continued innovation and adaptability suggest that its economic influence will only continue to grow, providing a refreshing boost to the US economy for years to come.

Whether you’re a craft beer enthusiast, an economist, or simply someone interested in American industry trends, the story of craft beer’s economic impact is one worth raising a glass to. Cheers to the brewers, farmers, distributors, and countless others who make this industry not just a economic force, but a beloved part of American culture.

(See also: Trump and Tariffs)

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We are also now on BlueSky as well, so make sure to check us out there also. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

Pour Man’s Brewing Company has become a notable player in the Pennsylvania craft beer scene since its inception in 2018. Founded by business partners Sam Son and Ryan Foltz, the brewery emerged from their shared passion for homebrewing, which eventually led them to take the leap into commercial beer production.

Pour Man’s Brewing Company’s logo

Humble Beginnings

Pour Man’s opened its doors in August 2018 at 284 S Reading Road in Ephrata, PA. The original location, a former butcher shop, became the birthplace of their brewing operations and taproom. From the start, Pour Man’s focused on creating a diverse range of beer styles, with a particular emphasis on producing high-quality lagers.

Pour Man’s Brewing Company’s beer at their original location. (photo courtesy of Pour Man’s Brewing Company)

Growth and Recognition

The brewery quickly gained a following for its commitment to quality and innovation. In 2022, Pour Man’s achieved a significant milestone by winning the Breweries In PA 2022 PA Beer Bracket Championship, solidifying its position as a fan favorite in the state. They also won in 2023 under the new “Malt Madness” tournament.

Expansion and Relocation

As Pour Man’s popularity grew, so did the need for more space. In late 2022, the brewery announced plans for a major expansion. This expansion included moving the taproom to a new location at 24 E Main Street in downtown Ephrata, while retaining the original building to expand brewing operations. The new taproom, which opened in 2023, is housed in a historic building dating back to 1912. Formerly home to Sprecher’s Hardware for 88 years, the 8,000 square foot space has been transformed into a modern craft beer destination. The new location features:

• Two bars on the first floor
• Seating for over 100 guests
• A beer garden in the back
• A second-floor event space with a sky-view bar overlooking downtown Ephrata
• 20 house-made beers on tap
• An expanded cocktail, wine, and cider list
• A redesigned food menu focusing on locally sourced ingredients

Pour Man’s Brewery (photo courtesy of Pour Man’s Brewing Company)

Brewing Philosophy

Pour Man’s has built its reputation on a lager-focused brewing approach while still offering a wide range of styles to cater to various tastes. Their commitment to quality and innovation has helped them cultivate a passionate following of craft beer enthusiasts.

Community Involvement

The brewery has shown a strong commitment to community engagement. They always have a charity tap available, demonstrating their dedication to giving back to the local community. Additionally, Pour Man’s has been one of the main driving forces behind the creation of the Lancaster County Brewers Guild, further cementing their role in the local brewing scene.

Pour Man’s Brewing Company (photo courtesy of Pour Man’s Brewing Company)

St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company’s logo.

Recent Developments

In a significant turn of events, Pour Man’s Brewing Company purchased St. Boniface Craft Brewing Co. in 2024. Since then, they have continued to produce Boniface beers and operate the Ephrata taproom, expanding their influence in the local craft beer market. As of 2025, Pour Man’s Brewing Company continues to thrive in its new location, offering a welcoming atmosphere for craft beer enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.

(See: Pour Man’s Brewing Acquires St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company)

With its rich history, commitment to quality, and strong community ties, Pour Man’s has established itself as a cornerstone of the Ephrata and broader Pennsylvania craft beer scene.

See Also

• A History of St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company
• A History of Pour Man’s Brewing Company
• History of Brewing and Breweries in Harrisburg
• Pour Man’s Brewing Acquires St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company

Articles on the History of Beer

• The Rich History of Beer in Pennsylvania: From Colonial Times to the Craft Beer Revolution
• Hops, History, and Innovation: The Fascinating Tale of the IPA
• The Rise of Craft Lagers in Pennsylvania Brewing
• What is a Lager? Exploring the World’s Most Popular Beer Style
• East Meets West – The Duel of the IPAs: West Coast vs. New England Styles
• Exploring the Bock Beer Style – From Einbeck to Munich
• Unraveling the Brews – The Distinctive Styles and Differences of Lagers and Bocks
• The Lifespan of your IPA – Freshness Counts with Craft Beer
• Unleashing the History of Flying Dog Brewery
• Beer and Philosophy 101 – A Crash Course in Beer and Philosophy (A Confluence of Thought and Taste)
• Unearthing the History of Harrisburg Brewing: From Barnitz to Troegs

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We are also now on BlueSky as well, so make sure to check us out there also. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

St. Boniface Craft Brewing Co., located in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, has been a staple of the local craft beer scene since its inception in 2010. The brewery’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a beloved establishment in Lancaster County is a testament to its commitment to quality and community.

The St. Boniface Craft Brewery

The Early Days

St. Boniface Craft Brewing Co. opened its doors on February 2, 2011, in the Donecker Artworks building on North State Street in Ephrata. Despite initially offering only one beer, Hegemony Stout, the brewery quickly gained popularity among craft beer enthusiasts as Lancaster County’s first production nano brewery.

St. Boniface quickly gained popularity among craft beer enthusiasts despite initially offering only one beer, Hegemony Stout.

The brewery’s humble beginnings can be traced back to 2010 when the business plan was first conceived. Within months, the founders had navigated through planning, construction, and regulatory hurdles to bring their vision to life.

In these early days, St. Boniface operated on a small scale, offering samples and growler fills to eager customers. The Hegemony Stout, which remains a staple of their lineup, was described as an imperial stout with a chocolatey sweetness balanced by roasty notes from dark malts and a slight bitterness from centennial hops.

Despite the limited offerings, craft beer fans flocked to the new establishment, setting the stage for St. Boniface’s future growth and expansion in the vibrant Pennsylvania craft beer scene.

St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company’s logo.

Expansion and Growth

In January 2013, St. Boniface took a significant step forward by moving to its current location on West Main Street in Ephrata1. The new space allowed for growler fills, and by June 2013, the brewery began selling its first pints on-site. This expansion marked the beginning of a new era for St. Boniface, as it could now offer a full taproom experience to its patrons.

Milestones and Innovations

As the brewery grew, so did its offerings and capabilities:

• June 2014: Inaugural Bonifest, celebrating St. Boniface’s feast day with beer, food trucks, and music.
• Fall 2014: Upgraded from a 3-barrel system to a 15-barrel Premier Stainless Brew system and commissioned their first canning line.
• October 2016: Added a kitchen to provide food service alongside their beers.

Political Controversies

In June 2022, St. Boniface Craft Brewing Co. found itself at the center of a heated political debate that significantly impacted its public image and business operations:

• The brewery’s Tied House location in Lititz planned to host an event titled “Should We Want An Explicitly Christian State” organized by The Mid Atlantic Reformation Society1.
• This decision sparked outrage among community members who accused the organization of being tied to white nationalist and hate speech, particularly concerning their derogatory language towards the LGBTQI+ community1.
• Initially, St. Boniface defended their decision, citing Pennsylvania’s Christian roots and arguing for inclusivity of all groups, including Christians.
• The brewery later deleted their social media post defending the event, but maintained their stance on hosting it.
• This controversy had lasting effects on the business:
  • The Tied House location in Lititz closed permanently in July 2024, with some attributing its failure partly to the political backlash.
  • Local residents reported avoiding the establishment due to its political associations.
• The incident highlighted the challenges businesses face when navigating political issues in a polarized social climate.

This controversy marked a significant turning point for St. Boniface, affecting its reputation and potentially contributing to the eventual sale of the brewery to Pour Man’s Brewing Company in April 2024.

(See: Pour Man’s Brewing Acquires St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company)

St. Boniface Craft Brewing Logo Etched Into a Barrel

Award-Winning Brews

St. Boniface’s commitment to quality has not gone unnoticed. In 2020, their Hegemony Anniversary Reserve won 3rd Place in the Barrel-Aged category at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Beer Competition.

Recent Developments

In a significant turn of events, St. Boniface was acquired by Pour Man’s Brewing Company in May 2024. This acquisition aimed to continue providing the beloved Boniface beers while expanding distribution and establishing the brands deeper in the central PA area. May of 2024 we covered the purchase with the article – Pour Man’s Brewing Acquires St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company.

The Legacy Continues

Today, St. Boniface Craft Brewing Co. remains a cornerstone of the Ephrata community, offering a range of year-round, seasonal, and limited edition beers crafted and served on site5. The brewery continues to honor its namesake, Saint Boniface, the patron saint of brewers, by “laying the axe at the root of the tree of bland beer”. St. Boniface Craft Brewing Co.’s journey from a small storefront to a well-established brewery showcases the power of passion, quality, and community in the craft beer industry. As it moves forward under new ownership, the brewery remains committed to its roots while embracing opportunities for growth and innovation in the vibrant world of craft beer.

See Also

• A History of St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company
• A History of Pour Man’s Brewing Company
• History of Brewing and Breweries in Harrisburg
• Pour Man’s Brewing Acquires St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company

Articles on the History of Beer

• The Rich History of Beer in Pennsylvania: From Colonial Times to the Craft Beer Revolution
• Hops, History, and Innovation: The Fascinating Tale of the IPA
• The Rise of Craft Lagers in Pennsylvania Brewing
• What is a Lager? Exploring the World’s Most Popular Beer Style
• East Meets West – The Duel of the IPAs: West Coast vs. New England Styles
• Exploring the Bock Beer Style – From Einbeck to Munich
• Unraveling the Brews – The Distinctive Styles and Differences of Lagers and Bocks
• The Lifespan of your IPA – Freshness Counts with Craft Beer
• Unleashing the History of Flying Dog Brewery
• Beer and Philosophy 101 – A Crash Course in Beer and Philosophy (A Confluence of Thought and Taste)
• Unearthing the History of Harrisburg Brewing: From Barnitz to Troegs

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We are also now on BlueSky as well, so make sure to check us out there also. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

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The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

As we gather around our tables this Thanksgiving, raising glasses filled with craft beer, wine, or cider, it’s natural to wonder: what did the Pilgrims drink at the first Thanksgiving? The answer might surprise you, and it’s not as straightforward as you might think.

The First Thanksgiving Dinner and Drinks (photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Magazine)

The Myth of the Pilgrim’s Beer

Contrary to popular belief, the Pilgrims likely didn’t have beer at the first Thanksgiving in 1621. This misconception stems from clever marketing campaigns by beer companies in the early 20th century, particularly after the repeal of Prohibition. The United States Brewers Association even claimed, “It was beer, not turkey, that lured the Pilgrims to Plymouth Rock” – a statement that’s more fiction than fact.

(See Also: Recipe: Crispy Beer Roast Turkey [using Troegenator])

What They Actually Drank

The Pilgrims and Their Drinks

Water: The Simple Staple

Believe it or not, water was likely the primary beverage at the first Thanksgiving. The Plymouth area had abundant clean water from freshwater streams and springs, making it a reliable and safe option for the Pilgrims.

(See Also: Munching on some Thanksgiving leftovers?)

Hard Cider: A Possible Treat

While not certain, there’s a chance that hard cider made an appearance at the feast. The Pilgrims were familiar with cider from England, and they may have used wild apples found in the New World to ferment a small batch.

(See Also: Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving)

Why No Beer?

Several factors contributed to the absence of beer at the first Thanksgiving:

1. Lack of Ingredients: The Pilgrims hadn’t yet established crops for brewing, particularly barley.
2. Time Constraints: Brewing takes time, and survival was the priority in those early days.
3. No Brewery: The first recorded brewery license in Massachusetts wasn’t issued until 1637, a full 16 years after the first Thanksgiving.

The Real Story Behind the Pilgrims and Beer

While beer wasn’t at the first Thanksgiving, it did play a crucial role in the Pilgrims’ journey:

• Beer was a staple on the Mayflower, with each person allocated about a gallon per day.
• The decision to land at Plymouth Rock was partly influenced by dwindling beer supplies.

(See Also: Fall Beers)

A Toast to Simplicity

As craft beer enthusiasts, we might feel a twinge of disappointment that our favorite beverage wasn’t part of the first Thanksgiving. However, the Pilgrims’ simple celebration, likely featuring water and possibly some hard cider, reminds us of the true spirit of the holiday – gratitude for survival and new beginnings. So this Thanksgiving, as you sip your carefully selected craft beer, take a moment to appreciate how far we’ve come. And maybe, just maybe, raise a glass of water in honor of those resourceful Pilgrims who started it all.

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

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We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We are also now on BlueSky as well, so make sure to check us out there also. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)