A study by the Iowa Wine and Beer Promotion Board finds the growth of the craft beer industry has done more than just increase the selection for one of the state’s favorite adult beverages. Board member, Megan McKay, says the study shows an increase in dollars comes along with the cold mugs of brew.
McKay owns the Peace Tree Brewing Company in Knoxville, and says this is the first look at the impact of the craft beer industry.
Iowa’s first craft brewery opened in Amana in 1985 and from then through 2014, 69 breweries and brewpubs opened and 15 closed — leaving 54 in operation in 29 Iowa counties.
Iowa craft beer production in 2014 was 40-thousand-786 barrels with 82 percent sold in-state, and the rest sold outside Iowa. The report projects a 28 percent increase in the number of facilities producing craft beers this year.
