Who’s Afraid Of the Big Bad Brewery?

Not I. The Brewers Association issued the list of the top 50 craft breweries as well as the top 50 breweries. Not a whole lot to discuss here, but if there’s one thing we as Americans like, it’s lists.

Here are the top 20 from each list. You can click the link at the bottom of the page for the full 50.

Top 20 Craft Brewing Companies by Beer Sales Volume (2007)

1. Boston Beer Co. (Boston, MA)
2. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Chico, CA)
3. New Belgium Brewing Co. Inc. (Fort Collins, CO)
4. Spoetzl Brewery (Shiner, TX)
5. Pyramid Breweries Inc. (Seattle, WA)
6. Matt Brewing Co. (Utica, NY)
7. Deschutes Brewery, Inc. (Bend, OR)
8. Boulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, MO)
9. Full Sail Brewing Co. (Hood River, OR)
10. Harpoon Brewery (Boston, MA)
11. Alaskan Brewing and Bottling Co. (Juneau, AK)
12. Magic Hat Brewing Co. & Performing Arts Center (South Burlington, VT)
13. Anchor Brewing Co. (San Francisco, CA)
14. Bell’s Brewery, Inc. (Galesburg, MI)
15. Shipyard Brewing Co. (Portland, ME)
16. Summit Brewing Co. (St. Paul, MN)
17. Abita Brewing Co. (Abita Springs, LA)
18. Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. (San Jose, CA)
19. Brooklyn Brewery (Brooklyn, NY)
20. Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA)

The definition of a craft brewer as stated by the Brewers Association: An American craft brewer is small, independent, and traditional. Small: Annual production of beer less than 2 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition. Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer. Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.

Top 20 Overall Brewing Companies by Beer Sales Volume (2007 sales, Craft breweries in Bold)

1. Anheuser- Busch Inc. (St. Louis, MO)
2. Miller Brewing Co. (Milwaukee, WI)
3. Coors Brewing Co. (Golden, CO)
4. Pabst Brewing Co. (Woodridge, IL)
5. Boston Beer Co. (Boston, MA)
6. D.G. Yuengling and Son Inc. (Pottsville, PA)
7. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Chico, CA)
8. New Belgium Brewing Co. Inc. (Fort Collins, CO)
9. High Falls Brewing Co. (Rochester, NY)
10. Spoetzl Brewery (Shiner, TX)
11. Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. (Portland, OR)
12. Redhook Ale Brewery (Woodinville, WA)
13. Pyramid Breweries Inc. (Seattle, WA)
14. Matt Brewing Co. (Utica, NY)
15. Minhas Craft Brewery (Monroe, WI)
16. Deschutes Brewery, Inc. (Bend, OR)
17. Iron City Brewing Co. (Pittsburgh, PA)
18. Boulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, MO)
19. Full Sail Brewing Co. (Hood River, OR)
20. Harpoon Brewery (Boston, MA)

Some quick observations, it’s nice to see Sierra Nevada and New Belgium so high on the list, joining Sam Adams as nationwide craft brewers. Of the top 50 Craft breweries, 23 states are represented, led by California with 11, Colorado with 6 and Oregon with 5. The surprises on the list for me were Vermont with 3 breweries and Washington with only 2.

Brewers Association Releases Top 50 (PDF)