Texas craft beer article - KXAN

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Interesting set of facts to back this up. cheers!

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AUSTIN (KXAN) - If you’re in the business of making beer - Texas is the place to be.

Last year, Texas craft brewers produced 133,000 barrels of beer in 2011. That’s a 46 percent increase from the year before.

"Since 2010, our sales have pretty much doubled." said Amy Cartwright, co-founder of Independence Brewing Co.

The company started in 2004, with a client list of 30. Cartwright said that in the past two years, the company’s sales have skyrocketed.

And now, more than 300 bars and restaurants in Austin serve Independence.

"What’s really exciting about the scene now is the public is interested in tasting new beers." Cartwright said.

But with the interest comes competition. In 2010 there were 52 licensed brewers in Texas. Now Texas is home to 78.

Across town, Live Oak Brewing Co. is also banking on the brew business.

"A lot of bars and restaurants have a lot of draft beer right now and seems to only get bigger, " said Chip McElroy, the brewery’s owner.

"We’re growing at about 30 percent so far this year, " McElroy said.

More here:
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/texas-craft-beer-brewing-big-profits

The good and bad of matters - good to get coverage of craft brewing, Independance is not *bad* but there are a number of others that might have been considered to be included in the report. (Good to see Live Oak and Chip in there - also believe his growth might be larger if ever packaging became part of the equation)

all in all, a positive report. (And also glad to note that Independance now seems to be moving in a direction that is more to my liking)

See Joe? Texas ain’t ALL bad. What with our emerging craft beer scene AND Whataburger, shoot, we’re what’s hot.