Minnesota breweries saw sales, revenue drop in 2020 The report underscores the industry's push to change Minnesota's liquor laws. Author: Minnesota's craft breweries saw an 18% drop in sales in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite studies that show many Americans are drinking more. Breweries rely heavily on selling beer in their taprooms (73% of sales are made on-site) but were limited by state-ordered shutdowns last spring and fall, resulting in an 18% decline in sales and the loss of 595 direct jobs, the report states. What's more, the industry's economic impact on Minnesota's economy fell from $1 billion in 2019 to $813 million in 2020, causing the state's economy to lose an estimated $186.6 million in economic activity and impacted 1,050 direct and indirect jobs, the report says.