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Pennsylvania craft beer has $2B economic impact
The commonwealth ranked fourth among states for economic output at $2 billion. California was No. 1 at $4.7 billion, followed by Texas at $2.3 billion and New York at $2.2 billion.
That figure comes from the total impact of beer as it moves from breweries to wholesalers and retailers, as well as all nonbeer products that brewpubs sell.
Pennsylvania had 20,867 people working in the craft-beer industry in 2012, according to the association. The average wage was $31,939.
There were 2,347 craft breweries in the U.S. in 2012. As of June 2013, that number was up to 2,483, according to the association.
The trade group defines craft brewers as those who produce fewer than 6 million barrels per year.
The largest craft brewer in Pennsylvania is the Victory Brewing Co. in Chester County.
Founded in 1996, Victory was the 26th largest craft brewer in the country, based on 2012 data, while Derry Township-based Troegs Brewing Co. landed at No. 50.
Troegs was established in Harrisburg in 1997. In 2011, the company moved into a larger facility near Hersheypark.
