Although there is still a large market for mass-produced beer, the public is clearly showing an appreciation for smaller, specialty brews produced by craft breweries. According to the Brewers Association, a craft brewer in the United States is small, independent and traditional, and the majority of Americans live within 10 miles of a craft brewer.

A recent report from Alltech found that there are more than 10,000 craft breweries worldwide, as shown in the following chart. You might guess Germany, with its reputation for producing beer and its well-known Oktoberfest, would be at the top of the list. But the industry leader, however, is much closer to home: It’s the United States with 4,000 craft breweries at last count.

This growth may present opportunities for independent insurance agents. Brewers are usually small businesses, and they have similar issues to many other small businesses. They have property, employees, delivery trucks, supply chain concerns, and business continuity issues. They also have to meet local ordinances regarding alcohol consumption, especially if the brewery offers tours and tastings. There are product liability and intellectual property issues as well. It’s all about risk management, and agents have many ways to help breweries manage that risk. Cheers!