Number of breweries in Europe 1956 - 2014

Given the popularity of my post about the expanding number of breweries in Europe, I thought I'd expand the table by moving backwards in time.

Only four countries had fewer breweries in 2014 than in 1956: Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Luxemburg. For Denmark it's a tiny difference - just five breweries - and Luxemburg is an odd case, being so small. Which leaves just Belgium and Germany, both of which have about a third of the breweries they did 60 years ago. I have to admit, it makes the situation in Germany look much worse than the 2009 to 2014 figures.

I can see four scenarios:

1. Countries that have returned to around the number of breweries they had in 1956. Sweden and the Czech Republic demonstrate this.

2. Countries with far more breweries than in 1956, but still fewer than the historic high point. Examples are the UK, The Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, Slovakia, France and Norway.

3. Countries with far more breweries than in 1956 and more than ever previously. Examples are France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. Note that all of these (including Switzerland) are traditionally wine-drinking countries.

4. Countries with fewer breweries than in 1956.  Examples are Belgium, Germany and Luxemburg.

Number of breweries in Europe 1956 - 2014
Country	1956	1976	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	2004	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Austria	98	-	59	55	60	74	106	145	172	172	170	173	194	198
Belgium	563	-	143	-	126	115	113	119	127	135	123	150	160	168
Czechoslovakia	330	96	95	-	-	n/a	n/a	-
Czech Republic		80	-	-	-	86	75	94	133	151	191	213	308	338
Slovakia		16	16	16	-	15	12	19	15	19	25	30	38	44
Denmark	155	24	-	-	-	-	-	34	N/A	N/A	150	150	150	150
France	390	55	-	-	-	-	-	-	322	387	442	503	580	663
Germany	3,218	n/a	1,516	-	1,329	1,243	1,279	1,274	1,331	1,333	1,347	1,340	1,349	1,352
Greece	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	11	11	17	18	20	20
Ireland	14	7	7	9	7	9	17	18	26	26	26	26	30	50
Italy	32	-	-	-	-	-	-	168	256	308	350	421	509	599
Lithuania						-	-	-	49	41	73	73	73	75
Luxemburg	11	-	-	-	-	5	5	-	6	7	7	7	7	7
Netherlands	48	20	19	25	30	44	-	65	N/A	N/A	125	165	N/A	263
Norway	25	17	-	-	-	-	-	-	22	30	33	40	54	77
Portugal	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7	7	9	10	18	35
Roumania	19	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	21	18	17	17	18	22
Spain	40	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	47	65	88	132	221	332
Sweden	130	25	-	-	-	-	-	28	30	45	65	75	100	151
Switzerland	58	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	280	328	360	375	409	483
United Kingdom	404	142	191	305	279	481	500	519	745	828	948	1,300	1,490	1,700
Sources:
Ceský svaz pivovarù a sladoven
Die Deutsche Brauwirtschaft in Zahlen, 1994
Unser Bier, Conrad Seidl, 1991, 1995, 1996
Het Brouwersblad June 2004. p.6
Zythos (thanks Casimir!)
Brauwelt nr. 6-7 February 2001
Deutscher Brauer-Bund, Bonn
Tim Webb's calculation
Almanach für das deutsche Brauwesen 1957, pages 54 and 55
Brewers Association
BBPA Statistical Handbook 2003, p. 92
my calculation
2009 - 2014: The Brewers of Europe Beer Statistics 2015 edition, page 21.

I'm still far from convinced that Germany is taking full part in Europe's brewing renaissance.

Number of breweries in Europe 2009 - 2014

The brewing industry is booming in Europe. Pretty much everywhere (with one notable exception).

I had some idea of what was going on, but was still slightly shocked by the figures.In most European countries tha lastcouple of years have seen crazy growth in the number of breweries. Even the Czech Republic, where the number of breweries had been quite stable, has suddenly started sprouting dozens of new ones.

The one exception? Germany. The number of breweries hasn't changed significantly in the last few years. Which has left it lagging far behind. For the first time since the 19th century, it doesn't have the most breweries in Europe. The UK caught up in 2012 and has since powered ahead. If you'd told me 10 years ago that there would be over 1,500 breweries in the UK, I'd have felt your bumps.

The effect has been to drastically reduce Germany's share of the breweries in Europe. From over a third in 2009 it fell to less than a quarter in 2014. While the UK's share has risen for just under 20% to almost 25%.

Paricularly striking is the growth in countries that aren't traditionally beer drinking. In Italy, France and Greece the number of breweries doubled. While in Portugal the increase is fivefold. In Spain almost sevenfold.

Number of breweries in Europe 2009 - 2014
Country	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Austria	172	172	170	173	194	198
Belgium	127	135	123	150	160	168
Bulgaria	8	8	13	13	13	16
Croatia	7	7	7	6	6	6
Cyprus	2	2	2	2	2	4
Czech Republic	133	151	191	213	308	338
Denmark	N/A	N/A	150	150	150	150
Estonia	6	6	6	7	10	15
Finland	18	25	25	30	43	49
France	322	387	442	503	580	663
Germany	1,331	1,333	1,347	1,340	1,349	1,352
Greece	11	11	17	18	20	20
Hungary	N/A	N/A	24	50	50	50
Ireland	26	26	26	26	30	50
Italy	256	308	350	421	509	599
Latvia	17	15	16	16	25	29
Lithuania	49	41	73	73	73	75
Luxembourg	6	7	7	7	7	7
Malta	1	1	1	1	1	2
Netherlands	N/A	N/A	125	165	N/A	263
Norway	22	30	33	40	54	77
Poland	89	103	117	132	155	133
Portugal	7	7	9	10	18	35
Romania	21	18	17	17	18	22
Slovakia	15	19	25	30	38	44
Slovenia	22	22	N/A	N/A	30	51
Spain	47	65	88	132	221	332
Sweden	30	45	65	75	100	151
Switzerland	280	328	360	375	409	483
Turkey	11	11	11	11	12	9
United Kingdom	745	828	948	1,300	1,490	1,700
Total EU 28	3,468	3,742	4,384	5,060	5,600	6,522
Total All	3,781	4,111	4,788	5,486	6,075	7,091
Source:
The Brewers of Europe Beer Statistics 2015 edition, page 21.

Very exciting times. I wonder what the future will hold? Obviously, there's a limit somewhere to the number of breweries that can operate. But I suspect we're still a long way shy of that.