Things are brewing in Maine, where consumption of beer has grown faster than any state in the nation, according to recent industry information.

In a survey by Beer Marketer’s Insights, a brewing industry publication, Mainers of drinking age consumed, on average, nearly three more gallons of beer in 2013 than they did in 2009. That’s the largest increase in the nation.

Maine’s annual per capita consumption in 2013 — the most recent year cited by the study — was 34.8 gallons, ranking it eighth nationally. 

Maine is in good company when it comes to New England states: New Hampshire was second in the nation; Vermont was fifth.

While the three New England states were up in beer consumption, national consumption dropped overall among those of drinking age. The national average was 28.3 gallons in 2012 and 27.6 gallons in 2013.

As for the top beer-drinking state in the country — that honor goes to North Dakota, where the annual per capita consumption was 43.6 gallons in 2013.

According to 24/7 Wall Street, which wrote about the survey, one reason for higher consumption in certain states may be lower population density. Most of the top consumption states have relatively low populations.