<P> Nearly eighty percent of convenience stores sell beer, about 93 percent of which is sold cold . The U.S. convenience store industry sells more than 2 billion US gallons (7,600,000 m) of beer a year; roughly one - third of all the beer purchased in the United States . Of the twenty percent of convenience stores that do not sell beer, the majority of those are in Pennsylvania--the nation's sixth - largest state by population--due to limitations on alcohol sales in the state, which make it illegal to sell in convenience stores and restrict sales inside supermarkets . Legislation is currently pending in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to legalize alcohol sales in convenience stores and loosen restrictions on supermarkets . </P> <P> In 2007, U.S. consumption was 6.7 billion US gallons (25,000,000 m). Beer sales in the premium market are increasing, while sales in the standard and economy section are decreasing . The major beer producers merged to strengthen their position--Anheuser - Busch merged with InBev to form Anheuser - Busch InBev, and Molson Coors formed a joint venture with Miller Brewing Company to form MillerCoors . Despite legal challenges, the country's three - tiered distribution system remains in place . </P> <P> Today, there are over 4,000 craft breweries in the United States and the craft beer industry employs over 100,000 individuals brewing 15.6 million barrels of beer per year . According to an article by the Associated Press, published in 2016, craft beer is a $22 billion industry in the United States and sales were up 13% year over year . </P> <P> The Brewers Association, a trade group of American brewers, defines a brewery as "craft" if it: 1 . is largely independent of outside corporate ownership, 2 . produces fewer than six million barrels per year, and 3 . uses traditional ingredients such as malted barley, or innovative ingredients to enhance flavor . </P>

When did beer became popular in the us