Exciting facts about the New York craft industry (especially farm-based licenses) from Governor Cuomo

Last week, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that the number of craft beverage manufacturers holding a farm-based license has grown by more than 150 percent since the first Beer, Wine, Spirits and Cider Summit in 2012. That’s an incredible number and a compliment to Cuomo and friends who continue to create a progressive marketplace for local craft industries, including beer. According to the governor’s website:

“New York’s craft beverage industry is booming, and by cutting red tape to industry development, we have seen significant growth in the number of manufacturers supporting our local farms and spurring job creation across the Empire State,” Governor Cuomo said. “Home to more farm-breweries, wineries, distilleries and cideries than ever before, I encourage visitors and craft beverage enthusiasts to enjoy some of the best products around, right here in New York.”

Cuomo’s government also announced a bunch of other outstanding facts about the growing craft industry in New York state. Here are some highlights:

• Since 2014, 433 new farm-based craft beverage licenses have been issued.
• New York is now home to 348 farm wineries, 202 farm breweries, 123 farm distilleries and 42 farm cideries.
• In addition, 80 farm wineries, 29 farm breweries, 12 farm distilleries and six farm cideries have opened branch stores due to legislation allowing farm breweries, cideries and distilleries to open branch stores.
• New York State now ranks in the top five in the United States for its number of craft beverage producers in every category. The state ranks first in U.S. for the number of hard cider producers, second for the number of craft distillers, fourth in the country for the total number of wineries and third in the country for the total number of breweries.
• According to Cornell University, the acreage of hops grown in New York State has nearly doubled from 2014 to 2016, and the acreage of malting barley has increased by 374 percent in the same two-year period, from 422 to approximately 2,000 acres.
• New York is now home to 13 malt houses, all of which have opened following the demand generated by the new farm brewery license.

Enjoy a list of all farm wineries, distilleries, cideries and breweries by region and city — available here. The total number of all farm-based manufacturers is included below by region: