Northland brewers look ahead after pandemic losses
Local breweries relied on to-go and liquor store sales to get through pandemic shutdowns, but that wasn't enough to prevent more than $186 million in economic losses across the state.
Written By: Laura Butterbrodt
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Bent Paddle employee Craig Faast checks to make sure there are no leaky cans in a 12-pack of Kanu Session Pale Ale in February 2020. (Steve Kuchera / News Tribune)
A new research report by the University of Minnesota Extension revealed that the state’s craft breweries lost more than $186 million in economic activity due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The study, done in partnership with the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild, compiled responses from 95 breweries across the state. In 2019, the industry generated more than $1 billion in economic activity and attracted about 3.6 million people to craft brewing events. During the pandemic, 1,050 of the 8,345 jobs supported by the craft brewing industry were affected.