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Brewers Association Poll Finds Quality of Beer Remains Priority Despite Economy |
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Written by Mark Dallmeyer
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Saturday, 06 June 2009 |
 Boulder, Colorado • June 4, 2009 – On Saturday, May 30, over 1,900
attendees enjoyed craft beer and food pairings from 68 craft breweries
at the sold-out SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience at
the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. A post-event survey
conducted by the Brewers Association finds that demand for quality beer
remains high despite the economy. An overwhelming 91.4 percent of
surveyed attendees said the economy has not affected the quality of
beer they purchase. In addition, 98.8 percent of respondents cite "high
quality" as their main priority when purchasing beer, as opposed to
"low price" or "brand recognition."
"A total of 68 craft breweries, each small and independent,
participated in SAVOR, the premiere beer and food pairing event in the
U.S. These breweries are succeeding despite a number of challenges
including access to market, rising cost of raw materials and
ingredients, and tax issues on both the federal and state level—not to
mention the economy," stated Charlie Papazian, President of the Brewers
Association. "We're happy that interest in craft beer is so strong that
SAVOR, as a second year event, sold out 8 weeks in advance."
Other Results from the SAVOR Survey
When it comes to spending habits, over half (54.9 percent) of surveyed
SAVOR attendees said they spend more than $50 per month on beer, while
36.6 percent spend between $25 and $50 and only 8.6 percent spend less
than $25 per month. And contrary to popular belief, many beer lovers
enjoy other fermented beverages as well. Nearly half of respondents
(46.9 percent) claimed to look outside the beer glass and consider
themselves to be cross drinkers (enjoying a combination of beer, wine
and/or liquor), while 51.6 percent identify themselves as beer lovers
exclusively.
SAVOR Supporters
Host Supporter: Reyes Beverage Group
Supporting Partners: Samuel Adams, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Supporting Breweries: Brewery Ommegang, New Belgium Brewing Company,
Rogue Ales, Saranac/The F.X. Matt Brewing Company, Sierra Nevada, The
Brooklyn Brewery; Supporters: Beer Advocate; Crosby & Baker Ltd.,
DRAFT Magazine, Four Points by Sheraton, GreatBrewers.com, Hunterdon
Beverage Company, Oak Beverages, Inc., National Beer Wholesalers
Association, Siemens
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Based in Boulder, Colorado, USA, the Brewers Association (BA) is the
not-for-profit trade and education association for small and
independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of
brewing enthusiasts.
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