The UK has more breweries than at any time since the Second World War despite a slump in beer sales and the closure of 50 pubs a week, new figures have revealed.
The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) found that 71 new breweries have started production in the past year, taking the nationwide total to 711 and making the UK the "undisputed top brewing country in the world".
West Yorkshire has the most breweries at 34, followed by Norfolk (31), Derbyshire and North Yorkshire (both 28) and Devon (27).
Camra published its annual Good Beer Guide, which lists 1,297 new pub entries as well as the new breweries.
A recent study showed that more than 50 pubs are closing every week in the UK, with total beer sales continuing to fall, but Camra said its research showed that the real ale industry was maintaining "rapid growth".
Roger Protz, editor of the Good Beer Guide, said: "For the first time since the 19th century, Britain is the undisputed top brewing country in the world. It has over 700 breweries and has more small craft breweries per head of population than all other major industrialised countries; but it also offers tremendous choice.
"While most other countries offer mainly mainstream lagers, Britain has enormous diversity - milds, bitters, strong ales, porters, stouts, barley wines, old ales, Christmas ales, spring beers, golden ales and harvest ales to name just a few. Some craft brewers are even producing lagers in the true Continental style.
"This rebirth of British brewing is due to the pioneering work of Camra - there are now more than twice as many breweries in Britain than when the campaign was launched in 1971 - and to the enthusiasm and innovation of independent brewers.
"This is an exciting time for real ale. Craft brewers are growing their sales at a time of economic downturn and falling demand for big beer brands. It's a major success story, and there's more to come.
"The Good Beer Guide lists 25 new breweries that will come on stream later this year and in 2010."
