One in six of those polled had made ambitious plans to double turnover, according to the annual SIBA members’ survey, which was released at BeerX in Sheffield last week.
The organisation’s MD Mike Benner said: “More and more drinkers are discovering the huge range of fantastic beer brewed by Britain’s independent craft brewers.
“SIBA’s members brewed 532 million pints in 2015 and this demand for quality, locally brewed beer has helped our membership grow to 850 brewers, [which is] approximately 60% of all breweries in Britain.”
Increased the beers they brew’
British brewers have also increased the number of beers they brew. In 2014, 29% of breweries produced seven or more regular beers, while this grew to 34% last year.
“Additionally, one in four breweries produced more than 10 seasonal beers a year, said SIBA.
More brewers were also looking to tap into the overseas market, with 53.6% of those asked saying they wanted to export in the future. Almost 17%, however, were already exporting.
Dr Ignazio Cabras from the University of Northumbria, which carried out the research, said: “Levels of production and employment are increasing.
‘Overseas to place their beers’
“Breweries are also looking overseas to place their beers and this is likely to bring multiple opportunities for the wider supply chain, which supports the industry.”
Overall, there is a lot of optimism for the future of the sector within the trade, according to Benner.
He said at BeerX: “There is a confidence in the market place. Local jobs are being created.
“We are still seeing pubs close, but those that are staying open are better.”