Louisiana’s burgeoning craft beer industry does a little more than provide the fuel for late night parties or days spent tailgating. Brewing the stuff also produced a $462.2 million business in the state in 2012, despite ranking as No. 49 for the state’s total number of craft breweries, according to the Baton Rouge Business Report.

In its front page feature, the monthly magazine focuses on the craft brewing industry and how the state’s tastes have shifted as more suds are coming out of Louisiana.

“In Louisiana, we are very much locavores,” said Andrew Godley, who operates Parish Brewing Company. “People are very proud of what comes from Louisiana. There’s such a strong cultural identity. People know what’s made here and they support it.”

Supporting it has come in the form of many new beer festivals and various events tied to canned and bottled beverages, as well as simply buying what’s locally on tap. The state’s craft breweries produced 197,853 barrels of beer, according to the report.

Craft beer production a $462.2 million business in Louisiana

Chelsea Brasted, NOLA.com/The Times Picayune