Michigan is home to more than 700 craft beverage businesses supporting growers that supply wine grapes, hops, barley, corn, and apples.
According to the Michigan Craft Beverage Council, the industry directly generates nearly 6,000 jobs in the state and tourism supports another 8,000 jobs, contributing $235 million in wages and $780 million in economic activity.
Lindsey Rodarmer is the Director of Communications for Founders Brewing based in Grand Rapids.
“Across the state, not just Grand Rapids, in every town there's a brewery and that means a lot to the city and whatever community that you're in. Those are local jobs. That's a part of the culture of that community and any way that you can support it, means a lot right now.”
The once-booming industry has gone flat, seeing three straight years of decline, struggling to overcome shifting drinking habits, and more recently impacted by tariffs.
“There’s a lot of challenges. There's a lot that goes into every beer that you drink that I think a lot of people don't realize. Not just the supplies that go into it - the malt, the hops, the barley that we're getting from all over - and tariffs are hitting some of those brewers hard especially the smaller brewers.”
In response, the Council is partnering with the state launching the “Michigan Crafted” campaign promoting the industry with advertising, events and social media in time for the summer tourism season.
Rodarmer says craft brewers have a history of working together, noting Founders’ recent partnership with Cheboygan Brewing Company.
“Just helping them out. It’s their recipe. We're just helping them out with some packaging and some brewing down here to help with some of their distribution. We win together so it's not competitive in any way. We like to help each other out.
The statewide “Michigan Crafted” campaign will extend across the U.S in 2026.
