en regional brewers and 100 microbreweries operated in the U.S. National breweries are defined as those that operate more than one brewery while regional brewers are single brewery companies. Microbreweries by definition produce less than 15,000 barrels per year. In addition, there is a sub sector known as "brewpubs" (restaurants and taverns that have small brewing systems to brew beer usually sold on the premises). Beer industry sales show that some 90 percent of the retail beer sold in America is packaged beer (70 percent cans, 30 percent bottles). The remaining 10 percent is draft beer sold in various sized kegs. Structurally, the beer brewing industry is multi layered, although three distinct tiers can be identified: brewers, distributors and on premises (taverns, restaurants, etc.) retail businesses that stock and sell beer to consumers. With this value added structure, the price and profit margins are particularly important in this industry.
As large as the American market for beer is, it is just a part of the worldwide thirst for this liquid that is one of the oldest in history. As a matter of fact, competition in the
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