Industry
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What is the Beer Industry?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

The beer industry is a collective of brewers, distributors, salespeople, and other people involved in the production and sale of beer. It spans everything from multinational brewers exporting their products to numerous countries to small microbreweries focusing on local production and distribution. Like other sections of the food and beverage industry, it is subject to regulation by government agencies concerned with consistency, health, and safety in products purchased by members of the public for consumption. Numerous employment opportunities are available in this field.

Humans have been making beer for thousands of years, and a number of brewers have been in business for several centuries, developing new varieties of beer, in addition to producing and distributing regular lineups of products. The industry includes agricultural producers who grow things like barley, corn, hops, and other crops used in beer production, along with facilities where beer is produced, transporters who handle both raw materials and finished beers, and representatives who market and sell beer to the public.

Hops, which are used to make beer.
Hops, which are used to make beer.

The size of the beer industry varies by nation, and it tends to wax and wane in response to economic factors. Industry changes, including upward and downward trends and major regulatory moves, are often reported in the media, as they are assumed to be of interest to investors as well as the public. The performance of the beer industry may be compared with the wine industry, as the two beverages can be related and shifts in sales for one often result in a corresponding change for the other.

Tanks for fermenting beer.
Tanks for fermenting beer.

Brewers large and small are interested in topics like brewing specialty beers, improving production methods, and finding ways to package and transport beer while maintaining its quality and flavor. The beer industry employs scientists and researchers covering topics like flavor, food production methods, and packaging and preservation techniques. It also funds surveys and other studies on how members of the public respond to different beers and advertising campaigns, packaging, and other outreach efforts.

Beer.
Beer.

A number of lobbies and trade organizations represent the beer industry. These groups work with legislators, regulators, and other public officials on matters of interest to the industry, and they also engage in public education and awareness campaigns intended to provide information about beers, brewing techniques, and safety concerns such as drinking and driving. Many of these groups focus on particular sectors of the industry, such as the craft beer industry, representing the interests of specific types of brewers.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AboutMechanics researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AboutMechanics researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

truman12

I love beer and I always thought that becoming a brewer would be a great job. The only problem is that I have no idea how to do that. What kind of schooling do I need, what kind of training do I need, what is the best part of the country to live in and find beer industry jobs?

I am 22 now and thinking of going back to school. I really want to do things right this time. How can I prepare myself to be a brewer of the future?

nextcorrea

I have been really excited sbout the craft brew market that has sprung up in the last 10 or 20 years. I can remember a time when you could only find beer made by major manufacturers and most of it had the same watery disappointing taste. It was like no one knew how to make an interesting flavorful beer.

Luckily I was not alone in this sentiment and there have been smaller breweries that have popped up around the country to offer an alternative to the bland lagers we all grew used to. They have been able to get their products in to a number of stores and bars and there are now hundreds of different delicious varieties of beer that really illustrate how amazing a good glass of beer can be. I salute their efforts and hope that they keep them up.

whiteplane

I live in St. Louis where Anheuser Busch is based and most people know that a few years ago the brewery was bought out by a foreign beverage conglomerate. It was big news around the country and it sparked a big debate here in the city.

Even though the beer is the same as it ever was and the character of the brewery has not changed drastically, there is still something about it that feels different. It doesn't feel like a St. Louis thing anymore, now it is just a big building downtown. People still drink plenty of Bud, they just do it with a little less pride.

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    • Hops, which are used to make beer.
      Hops, which are used to make beer.
    • Tanks for fermenting beer.
      By: Ahileos
      Tanks for fermenting beer.
    • Beer.
      By: volff
      Beer.
    • A stout, a brown ale, and a pale lager.
      By: Marius Graf
      A stout, a brown ale, and a pale lager.
    • Malt extract is known for its use in brewing beer.
      By: Greg Peverill-Conti
      Malt extract is known for its use in brewing beer.
    • Kegs are one way beer is served in large amounts.
      By: dja65
      Kegs are one way beer is served in large amounts.