Historical Tidbits: Beer. Random Statistics, 1868-2006

A collection of somewhat random statistics about brewers, beer, and brewing. Not sure what it all adds up to, but hey, I've got the numbers. Might as well use 'em.

1868:

population of U.S: 36.5 million

per capita consumption: 4.8 gallons

1878:

47.8 million

6.1 gallons

1888:

  60.3 million

11.7 gallons

1898:

73.3 million

15.5 gallons

1908:

88.7 million

15.5 gallons

Note: nearly 50% of Americans lived under some form of local/state prohibition. Pre-prohibition per capita consumption peaked in 1911 with 21 gallons, a level also reached in 1913 and 1914

1918:

102.9 million

15.1 gallons

1,092 breweries (fiscal year)

Note: On December 1, 1918, the nation's breweries halted operations, thanks to a presidential order aimed at rationing the nation's supplies of grain and fuel.

1938:

129.7 million

12.9 gallons

696 breweries

1948:

146 million

18.5 gallons

1958:

173.4 million

15 gallons

252 breweries

1968:

199.3 million

16.7 gallons

163 breweries

1978:

222 million

22 gallons

89 breweries

1988:

244.4 million

22.6 gallons

245 breweries

1997:

267.6 million

20.6 gallons

1,698 breweries (estimated)

2006:

299.3 million (estimated)

21.6 gallons

1,905 breweries

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Sources: United States Brewers' Association Almanac, 1940 Beer Institute, including the 1999 Brewers' Almanac