How does the number of breweries now compare to the historical count since the 1930s?

The correct choice highlights the significant growth in the number of breweries, which has reached levels higher than ever recorded in history. Since the 1980s, particularly in the 1990s and 2000s, there has been a remarkable resurgence in craft brewing. This resurgence has been attributed to several factors, including changing consumer tastes, an increasing interest in local and artisanal products, and legislative changes that have made it easier to start and operate breweries.

Before this modern boom, the brewery count saw drastic declines, especially during the mid-20th century when large-scale commercial breweries dominated, and many smaller operations were forced to close. As a result, the current number of breweries greatly exceeds the historical counts from the 1930s and other decades that followed, making this the most prolific time for breweries in terms of their sheer numbers.