DENVER (KDVR) — Though several local breweries have shut their doors in recent years, Colorado remains the best state for brewery jobs in the nation, according to data from the Beer Institute.
Despite rising operational costs and heightened challenges for all kinds of businesses, Colorado’s brewing industry remains a significant economic driver for the state
Colorado ranks as the top state supported by jobs of various roles at brewing companies. According to data from the Beer Institute’s Beer Saves America study, brewing jobs account for one in every 475 jobs in Colorado, the highest ratio of any state.
FOX31 spoke with the Chief Economist at the Beer Institute, Andrew Heritage, about the state of the beer industry in Colorado amid an evolving economic climate that has made it difficult to run a local business in many industries.
Beer sales down, closings outpacing openings
In 2024, Colorado lost 41 breweries and beer sales were down by 3.2% in the state, higher than the national average sales decrease of 2%, according to the Colorado Beverage Coalition.
Additionally, the Brewers Association reports more breweries, taprooms and brewpubs have closed than opened in recent years.
Heritage said it has been a tough several years for brewing businesses to operate nationwide due to multiple factors, like consumer uncertainty and pullback, higher costs of operations, increased minimum wage and more. Despite closings outpacing openings, Heritage said that people are still getting into the business, in Colorado and nationwide.
“I see beer as being a resilient industry, and where we are right now is sort of evolving to a new space as consumer preferences change. Also worth noting that when you look at business conditions a decade ago versus today, things are much tighter now. Credit conditions are tighter, costs of operating have gone up, costs of labor has gone up, that’s a significant driver of that, so it’s just much more difficult to operate any sort of business right now, brewing included,” Heritage said.
A spokesperson for the Colorado Brewers Guild recently told FOX31’s Shaul Turner that more closures are expected this year, noting that rising expenses and an evolving market have had different impacts, forcing some brewing companies to close while others seek opportunities for more locations.
Consumer preferences changing
One way brewing businesses are adjusting is by accommodating the evolving consumer preferences. Non-alcoholic beer sales have been on the rise and grown by nearly 23% this year, Heritage said.
He explained that in the eyes of the consumer, it is still a real beer with the same key ingredients like hops and malted barley, and it tastes like real beer. So a lot of brewers are investing in it as consumer interest continues to grow.
He said breweries are also matching their beers to meet consumer desires and getting into other kinds of crafting products.
“One of the things that’s really neat about the beer industry is that beer is a product that is highly versatile, so as consumer preferences evolve, the reason that this industry has been so resilient over times, it’s been able to match and meet those consumers where they are,” Heritage said.
Data: Beer has a big economic impact on Colorado
Colorado is home to one of the most popular beer brands in the nation: Coors, founded in Golden over 150 years ago. The Beer Institute said that 37.7% of the state’s brewing jobs (2,335 jobs) are for large brewers like Coors, which is a strong showing for the local craft industry.
The state has 6,253 brewing jobs, which includes various roles from the brewmaster and sales, accounting for one in every 475 jobs, the highest ratio of any state.
Top 10 States Most Supported by Brewing Jobs
| State rank | Brewing Jobs | 1 in X Jobs is a Brewing Job |
| 1. Colorado | 6,253 | 475 |
| 2. Maine | 1,191 | 553 |
| 3. Vermont | 565 | 554 |
| 4. Wyoming | 502 | 592 |
| 5. Oregon | 3,166 | 633 |
| 6. New Hampshire | 1,120 | 634 |
| 7. Montana | 634 | 829 |
| 8. Alaska | 399 | 847 |
| 9. Wisconsin | 3,540 | 860 |
| 10. Delaware | 563 | 876 |
According to another Beer Saves America report, the beer industry is responsible for more than 61,000 jobs (about 1 in 48 jobs in Colorado), contributes more than $13 billion to the state economy, provides $4 billion in wages and generates $1.3 billion in taxes that support local communities.
Heritage pointed out that beer has a broad economic impact across related industries like retail. “There’s a multiplier effect that comes from that. Every dollar spent in the beer industry creates $2.31 in economic output throughout the U.S. economy. That just speaks to the broad impact that beer has on the U.S. economy overall,” he said.
What is special about Colorado and beer?
Colorado has significantly more craft breweries than most states, the 4th most of any in the nation, according to the Brewers Association. The Centennial state is known by many as a great place for beer lovers.
Heritage said this may be due to several reasons, one being that local breweries have proved successful and thus attracted more.
Another reason that makes Colorado a great state for the beer industry is that the share of industry output taxes on beer in Colorado is a bit better than the national average. Heritage said that nationally, an average of 41.3% of every dollar spent on beer goes to taxes, compared to 32.9% in Colorado.
“Any business, beer included, needs an equal playing field and fair taxation policies to thrive. In Colorado, that’s been the case,” he said. “Just getting the business conditions right has gone a long way to spur the industry there.”
With at least one brewery in every congressional district in the country, Heritage added that beer is a product that Americans continue to love and that brings people together, which he said makes the industry an economic powerhouse. He expects the products to evolve with consumer demands into the future.
Competition to raise funds for Colorado Brewers Guild
The Colorado Brewers Guild said an upcoming fundraiser event will be a great way to support the local craft brewing industry amid current challenges.
On Friday, Nov. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Call to Arms Brewing Company, over 20 local breweries will compete in a “kick the keg” competition. They will each bring a keg of beer, and the first to empty their keg will win $500.
“Independent craft breweries are a cornerstone of Colorado culture—they fuel local economies, create jobs, and bring people together. But right now, many are facing unprecedented challenges which is why supporting the Colorado Brewers Guild is more important than ever,” says CBG Communications Manager Carrie Knose Wilson. “Events like Kick the Keg help raise funds so that the Guild can continue to support our local craft breweries through legislative and marketing efforts.”
Tickets to the event cost $40 and are available online. All proceeds will benefit the Colorado Brewers Guild.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
