]The chill of fall is here and taplists at local bars have doubled. Yes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year for a Pacific Northwest beer lover. The arrival of fresh hop season and return of Oktoberfest are great reasons to celebrate an industry that urgently needs our support.
You don’t have to be native Washingtonian to grasp the significance of beer here. With 459 breweries, the fourth largest number of any state, this industry accounts for over $1 billion in economic impact. In hop farming alone, our Yakima Valley is one of the most fertile hop-growing regions in the world, making up approximately 75 percent of the total U.S. hop acreage.
Unfortunately, between a dip in demand, the lingering effects of the pandemic, and alcohol consumption trends shifting away from beer, hop growers have been forced to curtail their production by 25 percent over the last two years. Add inflation to the cost of ingredients and it’s been a recipe for disaster for our breweries and pubs as well. For the first time since 1999, beer shipments fell below 200 million barrels in 2023, making it the lowest amount of beer consumed in the U.S. in a generation.
Beer has been and still is a huge part of our culture and identity. We must protect it and celebrate it. Visit our breweries. Grab a freshie at your local pub. Hoist a stein at one of the many German festivals popping up this season. It’s ours for the taking! Prost!
Jason Steffan
Columbia Distributing
Everett
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