Homebrewing sits inside one of the most data-rich corners of the beverage world, yet the numbers are scattered across association reports, market research, and national polls. This roundup pulls the most useful homebrewing and craft beer figures into one place for 2026, organized by participation, who brews, equipment spending, and the broader market that surrounds the hobby. Every statistic below is attributed to its original source so you can trace it, cite it, or fact-check it yourself. Figures reflect the latest available reporting from each source.
An estimated 1.1 million Americans homebrew beer, producing over 1.4 million barrels a year, according to the American Homebrewers Association. Homebrewing remains a niche but resilient hobby, accounting for roughly 1 percent of total US beer production, and it feeds directly into a craft beer market worth tens of billions of dollars.
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How many people homebrew, and how much they make
According to the American Homebrewers Association, an estimated 1.1 million Americans homebrew beer. Those brewers collectively produce over 1.4 million barrels of beer per year, which the AHA reports works out to roughly 1 percent of total US beer production. It is a small slice of the overall picture, but a remarkably consistent one.
The hobby also showed signs of fresh blood in the AHA reporting. The American Homebrewers Association found that 40 percent of homebrewers had started within the last four years at the time of its count, a sign that the activity was pulling in new participants rather than relying solely on long-time hobbyists.
Organized membership tells a more cyclical story. Brewbound reported that AHA membership peaked at 46,000 members in 2019, then declined to roughly 23,000 members by 2024. That contraction mirrors the broader cooling in craft beer participation over the same period, even as the underlying base of home producers stayed large.
On the event side, the Brewers Association reported that the Great American Beer Festival drew more than 40,000 attendees in 2024, with over 2,500 beers poured from more than 500 breweries, underlining that organized craft and homebrew culture still gathers a sizable live audience.
Who homebrews: demographics
The American Homebrewers Association profile describes a fairly established hobbyist. The AHA reported an average homebrewer age of 42 years, with 85 percent married or in a domestic partnership, painting a picture of a settled, household-based pursuit rather than a transient one.
Education and income skew high in the same AHA reporting. The American Homebrewers Association found that 68 percent of homebrewers held a college degree or higher, and a matching 68 percent reported a household income of $75,000 or more. Homebrewing reads as a hobby with disposable income behind it.
Drinking preferences in the wider population frame why beer remains the canvas. Gallup reported in 2025 that among US drinkers, 31 percent said they prefer beer most, narrowly ahead of liquor at 30 percent and wine at 29 percent. Beer still edges out the field as the most-preferred drink.
Craft beer consumption itself has broadened. Beer Today, citing Brewers Association and Harris Poll data, reported in 2024 that 48 percent of Americans drink craft beer at least several times a year, up from 32 percent in 2014. That same reporting put the craft beer drinker gender split at roughly 70 percent male to 30 percent female.
What homebrewers buy and spend
Equipment and ingredient spending is meaningful per brewer. All About Beer, reporting on an AHA survey, found that homebrewers spend an average of about $800 a year, broken down into roughly $460 on supplies and ingredients and $330 on equipment. The hobby carries a recurring annual cost rather than a one-time outlay.
Output backs up that spend. The same All About Beer reporting on the AHA survey found that members brew nearly 10 batches a year at about 7 gallons each, a cadence that keeps demand for ingredients and gear steady across the calendar.
Buying happens both locally and online. According to the All About Beer reporting, 95 percent of homebrewers shop at local homebrew supply stores, visiting roughly 8 to 9 times a year, while 80 percent also shop online stores about five times a year. Most brewers split their purchasing across both channels.
Temperature control is one of the highest-return upgrades a homebrewer can make on that equipment budget, and a dual-stage controller like the Inkbird ITC-308 Dual Stage Temperature Controller is the gear most experienced brewers reach for first. As for what gets brewed, West Coaster, reporting on the AHA survey, found that 60 percent of respondents brew only beer rather than also making cider, mead, or wine.
The craft beer market homebrewing lives inside
Craft beer is a multibillion-dollar industry. The Brewers Association reported US craft beer production at 23.1 million barrels in 2024, down 3.9 percent versus 2023, with an estimated retail dollar value of $28.8 billion, up 3 percent. Craft held a 13.3 percent share of the US beer market by volume and 24.7 percent by retail dollar sales.
The brewery count is large but consolidating. The Brewers Association reported 9,796 operating US craft breweries in 2024, made up of 2,029 microbreweries, 3,552 brewpubs, 3,936 taproom breweries, and 279 regional breweries. That year saw 430 breweries open against 529 closures.
The 2025 Brewers Association reporting continued the correction, with US craft production at 22,034,000 barrels, down 4 percent, and 9,578 operating breweries, down 2.9 percent. The opening-to-closing gap widened, with 300 new breweries opened against 481 closed.
Engagement among committed drinkers softened while taste stayed central. Beer Today, citing Brewers Association and Harris Poll data, reported that 62 percent of craft drinkers consumed craft several times a month or more in 2024, down from 81 percent in 2015, while 92 percent of consumers cited flavor as the primary purchase driver.
Economic footprint and market size
Craft brewing carries real economic weight. The Brewers Association reported a craft brewing economic contribution of $71.8 billion to the US economy and over 415,000 total jobs supported, including over 189,000 people working directly at breweries and brewpubs. Direct craft brewing employment was reported at 197,112, up 3.0 percent.
The total US beer industry is larger still. The Beer Institute and NBWA, in the Beer Serves America report, put total US beer industry economic activity at $471 billion, supporting 2.42 million American jobs and contributing $58 billion in taxes. Homebrewing draws from and feeds back into that entire ecosystem.
Geography concentrates the activity. The Brewers Association reported that Vermont led in 2025 with 21.9 craft beer gallons per adult aged 21 and over and $1,053 in craft economic impact per capita, while California had the most craft breweries at 939.
Looking globally, the IMARC Group valued the global craft beer market at USD 155.1 billion in 2025, forecasting USD 334.5 billion by 2034 at an 8.65 percent compound annual growth rate from 2026 to 2034. Market.us separately valued the global home beer brewing machine market at USD 26.9 billion in 2023, projecting USD 51.0 billion by 2033 at a 6.6 percent CAGR from 2024 to 2033.
Sources
American Homebrewers Association, 2017. 1.1 Million Americans Homebrew Beer. https://homebrewersassociation.org/news/1-1-million-americans-homebrew-beer/
All About Beer, 2013. Survey Details Demographics and Production of Homebrewers (AHA survey). https://allaboutbeer.com/news/survey-details-demographics-production-homebrewers/
West Coaster, 2013. AHA Survey Details Demographics and Production of Homebrewers (AHA survey). https://archives.csusm.edu/westcoastersd/2013/11/12/aha-survey-details-demographics-and-production-of-homebrewers/
Brewbound, 2019 to 2024. American Homebrewers Association to Split From Brewers Association. https://www.brewbound.com/news/american-homebrewers-association-to-split-from-brewers-association/
Market.us, 2023. Home Beer Brewing Machine Market. https://market.us/report/home-beer-brewing-machine-market/
Brewers Association, 2024. Brewers Association Reports 2024 US Craft Brewing Industry Figures. https://www.brewersassociation.org/association-news/brewers-association-reports-2024-u-s-craft-brewing-industry-figures/
Brewers Association, 2025. Economic Impact Data. https://www.brewersassociation.org/statistics-and-data/economic-impact-data/
Brewers Association, 2025. A Year of Correction for Craft Beer With Early Signals of Recovery. https://www.brewersassociation.org/association-news/a-year-of-correction-for-craft-beer-with-early-signals-of-recovery/
Beer Today (Brewers Association / Harris Poll), 2024. US Craft Beer Survey. https://beertoday.co.uk/2024/08/02/us-craft-beer-survey-0824/
Gallup, 2025. US Drinking Rate at New Low as Alcohol Concerns Surge. https://news.gallup.com/poll/693362/drinking-rate-new-low-alcohol-concerns-surge.aspx
IMARC Group, 2025. Craft Beer Market. https://www.imarcgroup.com/craft-beer-market
Beer Institute / NBWA (Beer Serves America), 2024. New Report: Beer Industry Is a Cornerstone of Local Economies. https://www.beerinstitute.org/press-releases/new-report-beer-industry-is-a-cornerstone-of-local-economies-supporting-more-than-2-4-million-american-jobs-nationwide/
Brewers Association, 2025. State Craft Beer Stats. https://www.brewersassociation.org/statistics-and-data/state-craft-beer-stats/
Brewers Association, 2024. The 2024 Year in Beer. https://www.brewersassociation.org/association-news/the-2024-year-in-beer/
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How many people homebrew beer in the United States?+
An estimated 1.1 million Americans homebrew beer, according to the American Homebrewers Association. Together they produce over 1.4 million barrels a year, which the AHA reports is about 1 percent of total US beer production.
How much does the average homebrewer spend per year?+
Homebrewers spend an average of about $800 a year, split into roughly $460 on supplies and ingredients and $330 on equipment, according to All About Beer reporting on an AHA survey. The same survey found members brew nearly 10 batches a year at about 7 gallons each.
What percentage of Americans drink craft beer?+
About 48 percent of Americans drink craft beer at least several times a year, up from 32 percent in 2014, according to Beer Today citing Brewers Association and Harris Poll data. Flavor was the primary purchase driver for 92 percent of consumers.
Is homebrewing and craft beer growing?+
The picture is mixed. The American Homebrewers Association found 40 percent of homebrewers had started within the prior four years, but AHA membership fell from a 46,000 peak in 2019 to roughly 23,000 by 2024. The Brewers Association reported US craft beer production down about 4 percent in 2025.
How big is the craft beer market?+
The Brewers Association estimated US craft beer retail value at $28.8 billion in 2024, with craft holding 24.7 percent of the beer market by retail dollar sales. Globally, the IMARC Group valued the craft beer market at USD 155.1 billion in 2025, forecasting USD 334.5 billion by 2034.
How many craft breweries operate in the United States?+
The Brewers Association reported 9,578 operating US craft breweries in 2025, down 2.9 percent from 9,796 in 2024. California had the most breweries at 939, while Vermont led in craft beer gallons per adult aged 21 and over at 21.9 gallons.