Pennsylvania has one of the strongest craft brewing industries in the country, another reason why Pennsylvania is the Great American Getaway.
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced $516,894 in nine research and marketing grants to boost sales, production, and quality of Pennsylvania craft beer and malt beverages.
“Over the past decade, Pennsylvania has grown from 88 craft breweries to 530,” said Secretary Redding. “Pennsylvania’s craft breweries feature not only local flavors, and the imagination and craftsmanship of expert brewmasters, but unique opportunities to experience local culture across our beautiful state. That small-business ingenuity and vision is why we are a national leader, and why the Shapiro Administration is investing in keeping Pennsylvania agriculture at the top.”
Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation in the economic impact generated by its craft breweries at $5.474 billion in 2023. Producing 3,132,799 barrels a year, the state also ranks second nationally in volume, and third in the number of craft breweries, with 530.
Governor Josh Shapiro’s economic development strategy focuses on agriculture and manufacturing as key to Pennsylvania’s future success. Since taking office, the Shapiro Administration has secured over $2 billion in private sector investments to reignite the Commonwealth’s economy, spur innovation, and create jobs and economic opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.
The PA Department of Agriculture’s Malt and Brewed Beverage Board selected the following projects for funding through the PA Liquor Control Board. Recipients, grant amounts, project names, and descriptions are listed below:
Babesburgh, LLC – $44,000
Babesburgh – Promoting Western Pennsylvania breweries to female audiences, through events welcoming women from different communities and cultures
Bucks County Conference & Visitors Bureau – $75,000
Visit Bucks County Ale Trail – enhanced marketing for breweries on the 2025 trail highlighting Bucks County breweries
Drinking Partners, LLC – $80,000
Barrel & Flow 2025: Growing and Supporting the Black Craft Beer Community in the U.S. – economic empowerment for Black craft brewing and arts communities through support for Black talent and entrepreneurs
Double Eagle Malt, LLC – $95,352
Agricultural marketing research campaign for Pennsylvania malt and brewed beverages – Core market research on consumer and brewer perceptions of local ingredients in Pennsylvania brewed beverages. Conclusions of the study should put to rest questions about whether consumers care about the ingredients in their beer and whether they would be willing to pay more for beer brewed with locally grown grain.
Lancaster County Brewers Guild – $20,750
Lancaster County Ale Trail and Passport – direct marketing, expanded social media advertising, and website development to increase revenue for brewer-members
Visit Hershey & Harrisburg – $40,000
Brew Barons Beer Trail – digital and social marketing campaign highlighting 5th anniversary of the 30+ craft brewery trail to visitors in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
Penn State University – $17,382
Feasibility study of bioconversion of Pennsylvania brewery organic waste streams to a viable protein source for poultry – aims to transform brewery waste into a sustainable, high-quality feed for poultry using black soldier fly larvae. This innovative initiative addresses environmental challenges while promoting economic growth by enhancing sustainability of the brewing and animal feed industries.
Penn State University – $72,329
Practical approaches for Pennsylvania brewers to increase and retain desirable hop aroma compounds – Hops contain extremely potent aroma compounds that are highly desirable because they contribute pleasant flavors to beer. Project will explore how yeast can be used during dry hopping as a strategy for increasing concentrations of desirable flavor compounds in beer.
Penn State University – $72,081
Enhancement of hop flavors in low-alcohol beers – Low-alcohol beer is a quickly growing market faced with challenges in achieving great beer-like tastes. Project will use enzymatic treatments to enhance the extraction of flavors and aromas from hops into low-alcohol beer
PA Preferred® is Pennsylvania’s brand for locally produced agriculture. Look for the PA Preferred yellow and blue check, wherever you shop. Find a PA Preferred craft beer, cider, malt beverage, or craft brewery near you at papreferred.com
You can read Pennsylvania’s first economic development strategy in 20 years here. Get more information on how the Governor’s budget will create economic opportunity for all Pennsylvanians here.
Contact: Shannon Powers – 717.603.2056, shpowers@pa.gov
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