Number of Breweries in United States Increased by 2020

Back in 2015, the Brewers Association had reported a historic moment for the beer economy in the U.S. in terms of the number of craft breweries. That year, 4,269 breweries were in the U.S., the highest number since 1873, when the nation’s beer industry recognized 4,131 breweries. Over the next five years, however, the number of breweries in the U.S. would continue to grow.

In 2020, the Brewers Association reported an all-time high of 8,764 breweries in operation in the U.S., despite the coronavirus pandemic. According to the map, California remained the leading state with the highest number of breweries. Mississippi continued to have the fewest number of breweries.

The same year, Illinois ranked No. 12 in the number of breweries. However, of the 295 breweries located in the state, the majority of them could be found in Chicago. In fact, by 2020, Chicago had more breweries than other major U.S. cities like San Diego and Los Angeles. According to tourist website Choose Chicago, Chicago has been known as the craft beer capital of the nation since 2018; furthermore, over 200 breweries in the city are in operation as of April 2022.