How well do you know the beer industry? Such a question may not matter much to the casual drinker, but to the beer blogger, industry knowledge is paramount to the production of coherent and believable articles; an essential component of writing composition that quickly builds credibility with an audience. I attended the 2016 Beer Bloggers and Writers Conference in Tampa just recently and one of my goals was to sharpen my beer industry intelligence quotient. I believe I did, indeed, add a few IQ points to my noggin after listening to Beer by the Numbers, a conference session presented by National Beer Wholesalers Association Chief Economist Lester Jones.
Knowledge is Power
I’m probably a little different from the average person (okay, hold your comments!) in that I actually like statistics and statistical reporting. As a part- time university professor who teaches Accounting, Finance, Management, and Philosophy, I also believe that a solid educational foundation is important to any endeavor, whether it is blogging or anything else. This is why I looked forward to Beer by the Numbers and the golden opportunity to increase my beer intelligence to unprecedented heights.
It’s All in the Numbers
I know what you’re thinking. Listening to an economist deliver a speech on beer industry statistics is akin to suffering through an insurance seminar on the merits of universal life. But I say au contraire, my fellow naysayer, for I found the Beer by the Numbers conference an excellent opportunity to learn more about the business of beer; a chance to soak up statistical data on the demographics of beer drinkers, the latest trends, and the future consumption of the beverage we love. So pop open a double IPA and digest these facts:
- About 73 percent of the U.S. population is age 21 or older, making them legal to drink. This is the highest percentage of legal adults in modern times and good news for the alcoholic beverage industry.
- Among those of legal drinking age, the average person consumed 27.5 gallons of beer and cider in 2015.
- Beer consumption per capita in the United States reached its peak in the early 1980’s.
- The number of permitted (legally recognized and allowed to brew beer, haven’t necessarily started yet) breweries in 2015 was just over 6,000 nationwide. California leads all states with 788 permitted breweries. North Dakota has the fewest, with only 11.
- More breweries use the word “river” in their name than any other word.
- Generation X’rs have a preference for beer while Gen Y prefer liquor and Boomers (and older) tend to go for wine.
This is just a small sample of the tidbits of wisdom shared by Lester Jones. With each click of the slides and each word that flowed from his lips, my beer intelligence grew; bolstered by the presence of statistical wisdom and magnified in new, profound, and often unforeseen ways.
Spread The Word
Beer by the Numbers was a great way to learn more about the beer industry; where it has been, where it is now, and where it is going. Speaker/economist Lester Jones did an excellent job parlaying the facts in just the right way to keep everyone interested. Like I said, I already love statistics, so he already had me at “economy.” But I know that others do not necessarily share my love of numeric data and many need the added props of humor, analogies, etc. to make it through a session such as this. Lester Jones delivered on all counts, and everyone left with a certain feeling of unanticipated accomplishment.
Knowing an industry in which you participate is important. For the beer blogger, it is a necessary duty to educate one’s self on the business of beer, both for personal and professional benefit. Beer by the Numbers helped me gain new insights into the beverage and industry I love, and I left a satisfied and wiser person.
Thank you, Beer Bloggers and Writers Conference, for another excellent session and overall presentation!
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