Have a Beer! It's Good for the Economy

Who knew how much brew could do for me and you? A new economic impact study shows America's beer industry, made up of brewers, beer importers, beer distributors, brewer suppliers and retailers, generates more than 1.8 million American jobs -- which account for $71.2 billion in wages and benefits. The industry also contributed $44.7 billion dollars in the form of business, personal and consumption taxes in 2010.

Not only that, but the American beer industry contributes $223.8 billion each year to the U.S. economy, according to a study commissioned by the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA).