Colorado Largest Beer Producer

According to a story in the Denver Post, Colorado passed New York and, unbelievably, Texas to become the nation's biggest beer producer. Texas, in case you are wondering, has a Anheuser-Busch brewery in Houston and a Miller brewery in Fort Worth.

The Colorado brewing industry produced over 700 million gallons of beer.

A recent study commissioned by the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) also found that the beer industry, made up of brewers, beer importers, beer distributors, brewer suppliers, and retailers, directly and indirectly contributes $12.4 billion annually to Colorado's economy. The industry's economic impact includes 67,918 jobs - paying $3 billion in wages - as well as $1.6 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.

We could have that kind of economic benefit in Texas. If we would get off our butts and remind the Legislature who is supposed to actually run Texas. But they would rather impose civil fines on traffic tickets to increase revenues than support job creating businesses.

After the New Year, I will publish my letter to the candidates for the Legislature. I hope all of my Texas readers will write their candidates and let them know that we would like a vibrant beer culture here in Texas.