Now 5,005 U.S. Breweries

Dear Client:Welp, we've broken 5,000 breweries.The Brewers Association reported that and more in their just-released "Year in Beer" overview to commemorate the 83rd repeal of Prohibition.But that new brewery number threshold has got to be the absolute headline. There are now half as many U.S. breweries as there are wineries. About 99% of those breweries are independent.Expect lots more. Looking at the TTB permit "tea leaves," BA economist Bart Watson said there could be "probably another 1,900 breweries that will