Colorado beer sales achieved new record at outset of 2019

DENVER (AP) - Beer sales in Colorado set a record at the beginning of this year, increasing by 20 percent over the same period last year.

Colorado Public Radio reports that the state Department of Revenue taxed 9.8 million gallons of beer sales in January 2019, 1.6 million more than January 2018.

For decades, Colorado limited full-strength beer sales to independently run liquor stores, while grocery and convenience stores could only sell beer with a maximum alcohol content of 3.2%.

Sales of 3.2% beer decreased with the growth of the craft beer market that has come to dominate the state and the cap has subsequently been lifted to allow grocery and convenience stores to sell stronger craft brands.

The Colorado Brewers Guild says it is too soon to predict the overall market effect.

___

Information from: Colorado Public Radio, http://www.cpr.org/news