The history of the American brewing industry has been one of dramatic ups and downs, from a vibrant past of locally stocked saloons, to prohibition and the complete shutdown of the industry, to todays far reaching microbrewery scene. This fast-paced motion graphic from our friends over at Visual.ly, explores that wild ride through the past 110 years.
According to this thirst inducing piece, just over a century ago there were 1,751 breweries operating in the US alone, supplying mostly local demand and providing regional flavors and styles. Not long after, in 1919, the Volstead Act was passed and prohibition took hold of the country, forcing the once prolific beer culture to officially shut its doors… though illegal home brewing quickly flourished to supply the thirsty country. After drinking was re-legalized in 1933, a steady decline of small breweries and consolidation into large corporations began, putting the country into a 50 year decline in craft made beers. By the time 1983 rolled around, only 80 breweries supplied the entire nation. Luckily the population grew weary of such limited selection and by the 1990s a healthy selection of successful micro-breweries had cropped up. Now, more of the golden bubbly beverage is being consumed than ever before… and the current number of breweries in the US is right back where we started at 1,750 operating nation wide! Tasty.
