Over the weekend, Oregon breweries and cidermakers celebrated 30 wins of the prestigious Great American Beer Festival awards.
“Oregon is a proud craft brewing state and we have the accolades to prove we’re among the top in the world,” said Sam Pecoraro, president of the Oregon Brewers Guild and brewmaster of Von Ebert Brewing, who won two gold medals this year. “Oregon breweries are facing major challenges with slumping sales and record closures. So please, seek out these award winners and help toast to keeping these breweries alive so they can win even more awards next year.”
Yet another year in the top five, Oregon took home 30 awards and 29 out of 347 medals, the third most awards of any state, behind California with 80 and Colorado with more than 40. You can see the full list of winners here. Oregon ranks seventh in craft breweries per capita and has a rich history as a pioneering state of craft beer.
Oregon’s more than 300 breweries help create 46,700 jobs, $2.8 billion in wages and $8.9 billion in economic activity for the state each year. Sadly, in the last two years, Oregon lost at least 70 breweries, taprooms or brewpubs. Brewers are dealing with inflation, supply chain issues, employee shortages, tariffs and fewer people drinking beer overall. The Brewers Association is projecting craft beer sales down -5% halfway through 2025, and were down -4% in 2024.
About the Oregon Beverage Alliance:
The Oregon Beverage Alliance is made up of local brewers, winemakers, cidermakers, distillers and their supply and hospitality partners creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and generating $17 billion in economic activity for Oregon annually.
