Beer
The Craft Beer Industry in New York
National Rank in Number of Craft Breweries
2
Number of Operating Craft Breweries
460
Economic Impact of Craft Beer Industry
5,400,000,000
CNY: The Historic Home of Hops
Between 1840 and 1900, New York State led the country in hops production, growing millions of pounds annually- 21 million by 1880. By the end of the 19th century, the American brewing industry was using more than 30 million pounds of dried hops annually, and most were grown in central New York.
New York’s “hop belt” consisted of Otsego, Chenango, Madison, Oneida, Montgomery, and Schoharie Counties, but hop yards were reported in over 43 counties by 1840.
In the 1880s a fungal disease emerged called ‘blue mold’ that began to
rapidly kill hop crops, and by 1909 New York lost its rank as the leading
hop producer to California and Oregon. Prohibition in the 1920s and 30s
resulted in the final demise of central New York’s most successful crop.
The hops industry in New York is experiencing a comeback today, with many small farms and growers finding success with support from the state and the booming craft brewing industry.
Cayuga County
Brewing was big business in Cayuga County. In Auburn alone, dozens of independent breweries were found in the industrial center, spurred by the rampant commerce enjoyed by the opening of the Erie Canal and later the abundance of railroads supplying the abundant New York hops. Like the hops industry, brewing was significantly impacted by the blue mold blight and Prohibition. It would take until 2014 for independent brewing to become a significant industry in Cayuga County again.
Relevant Dates
Some of the most important dates in the development of the modern craft brewing industry in the region.
1933
End of Prohibition
1933
The end of Prohibition saw the brewing industry concentrated largely out west alongside the country’s hops production, with little change until the 21st century.
2014
Craft NY Act Passed
2014
Many provisions such as an increase of production caps and various other incentives allowed the industry to explode from 150 in 2014 to over 460 breweries today!
2014
Lunkenheimer Craft Brewing Founded
2014
Opened in Weedsport in September 2014, Lunkenheimer Craft Brewing Company was Cayuga County’s first licensed brewery opened since Prohibition!
