Brewery development still needed

Even though the count of brewery licenses has grown tremendously over recent years, West Virginia still presents a great opportunity for more brewery development. Taking a look at West Virgina’s most populous counties shows that several have a real need for more breweries.

Need to fill the deficit

With its large population and commerce base, Kanawha County could easily handle three or four additional breweries within its urbanized core along the Kanawha River. The Teays Valley area of Putnam County, with its favorable demographics, is an enormous opportunity just waiting for a brewery developer. Huntington, which includes the major population sections of Cabell and Wayne counties, could easily handle two or three more breweries. Harrison County, in the growing north-central WV corridor, is in desperate need of its first brewery. The hot growth counties of Berkeley and Monongalia could both easily support more breweries.

WV was a late bloomer in craft beer, so it has a lot of room to catch up. This makes it a better place to build a new brewery than many larger markets where small breweries are nearing or are at saturation levels. Looking at other states with more developed craft markets, however, one will discover that small breweries have developed into a very stable businesses sector with little turnover. With our state’s tourism industry shining brighter and brighter, small breweries are one compatible feature that we need more of. Just ask any brewery owner (or distillery owner for that matter) if they get much business from tourists. You’ll hear a resounding YES. Small breweries are a fantastic tourist attraction and more of them would certainly help our tourism economy grow and thrive.