When Rob Fullmer, the executive director of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, says "everything is improved by the presence of a brewery," he's talking about the economic buzz it brings and not the alcoholic kind.
"Anytime you can put a business between two breweries, you'll see a much more foot traffic in that area, and you'll see a real benefit to your employees," said Fullmer – not to mention "the lunches and happy hours."
New industry-generated numbers appear to back up that claim that beer brings economic growth and prosperity.
A recent report by the National Beer Wholesalers Association said the beer industry in Arizona – from brewers to drivers to bartenders – had an economic output of almost $4.3 billion in 2014, generated more than $800 million in federal and state taxes and was responsible for 38,627 jobs in the state.
