Brewers Association Reveals Top 50 Breweries of 2014

The Brewers Association has released its list of the Top 50 Breweries of 2014. The BA's new definition of what comprises a craft brewery caused the most changes to the list, as D.G. Yeungling and Son, Inc. took the top spot from the longtime number one Boston Beer Company. This reflects the BA's decision to include brewers who use traditional ingredients like corn in their beers, but otherwise meet the association's criteria on size and independence. The full list can be found here.

Here is the release from the Brewers Association:

Boulder, CO •March 31, 2015—The Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade group representing small and independent craft brewers—today released its annual lists of the top 50 craft and overall brewing companies in the U.S., based on beer sales volume. Of the top 50 overall brewing companies, 42 were craft brewing companies¹.

"The companies on this list include the vanguard of the craft industry," said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. "They are exposing new beer lovers to craft, opening new markets and creating opportunities for the entire category. As they continue to grow, so will the availability of innovative and high-quality beers produced for all to enjoy."  

Top 50 U.S. Craft Brewing Companies

(Based on 2014 beer sales volume)

Top 50 Overall U.S. Brewing Companies²

(Based on 2014 beer sales volume)

Download High Resolution Graphics Here

The Association's full 2014 industry analysis, which shows regional trends and sales by individual breweries, will be published in the May/June issue of The New Brewer, available in May 2015.

For additional statistics, see the Brewers Association's craft brewing statistics for 2014.

¹ An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional. Small: Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less (approximately 3 percent of U.S. annual sales). Beer production is attributed to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Independent: Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member that is not itself a craft brewer. Traditional: A brewer that has a majority of its total beverage alcohol volume in beers whose flavor derives from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients and their fermentation. Flavored malt beverages (FMBs) are not considered beers.

² Top 50 U.S. Overall Brewing Companies notes: (a) includes Bass, Beck's, Blue Point, Bud Light, Budweiser, Busch, Goose Island, Landshark, Michelob, Rolling Rock, Shock Top and Wild Series brands. Does not include partially owned Coastal, Craft Brew Alliance, Fordham, Kona, Old Dominion, Omission, Red Hook and Widmer Brothers brands; (b) includes A.C. Golden, Batch 19, Blue Moon, Colorado Native, Coors, Keystone, Killian's, Leinenkugel's, Miller and Tenth & Blake brands; (c) includes Pabst, Schlitz and 28+ other brand families; (d) includes Alchemy & Science and Sam Adams brands. Does not include Twisted Tea or Angry Orchard brands; (e) includes Dundee, Genesee, Labatt Lime, Magic Hat and Pyramid brands; (f) includes Kona, Omission, Red Hook and Widmer Brothers brands; (g) includes BridgePort, Shiner and Trumer brands; (h) includes Bell's and Upper Hand brands; (i) includes Sleeman and Sapporo brands; (j) includes Mountain Crest and 10 other brand families; (k) includes Boulevard and Ommegang brands; (l) includes Flying Bison, Saranac and Utica Club brands; (m) includes Casco Bay, Sea Dog and Shipyard brands; (n) includes James Page, Point and Whole Hog brands; (o) includes Grain Belt and Schell's brands; (p) includes Long Trail, Otter Creek, The Shed and Wolaver's brands; (q) private label brands, primarily for grocery store chains; (r) includes Iron City and 17 other brand families.