LANSING (WWJ) -- Raise your glasses, because Michigan has been confirmed as 'The Great Beer State'!
That's according to a new report, which found that Michigan's beer industry supports more than 66,000 jobs across the state.
The National Beer Wholesalers Association and the Beer Institute crunched the numbers as part of the Beer Serves America study, and showed that Michigan had an overall economic impact of $9.9 billion in 2020 thanks to beer distributors, breweries and retailers.
"Michigan's independent, locally owned beer distributors are proud to work hand-in-glove with brewers big and small right here in Michigan, across the country and around the world to help them grow and thrive on a level playing field," said Spencer Nevins, president of the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association. "This new data makes clear that Michigan is not just the Great Lakes State but also the Great Beer State, and Michigan's beer distributors are proud to play a role in the beer industry's continued success."
The study also found that Michigan's various beer distributors employ nearly 4,900 workers, with Nevins saying that the companies demonstrated their "deep roots in the communities they serve" during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"That was on display throughout 2020 as our members partnered with local distilleries to produce and deliver hand sanitizer to frontline medical workers and nursing homes when there was a worldwide shortage because of the COVID-19 pandemic and supported local restaurants and their employees," he said.
Michigan is a Top 10 beer producer in the U.S., and also home to some of the most well-known breweries in the country, including Bell's, Founders, Short's, Atwater, Old Nation, New Holland and others.
