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Brewer’s Association releases Top 50 Craft Breweries in volume for 2018

The Brewer’s Association has released its annual list of the top 50 craft breweries (in sales volume) in 2018. Yuengling remains #1 for another year.

Following Yuengling is Boston Beer, Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, and Duvel Moortgat (which own Firestone Walker, Ommegang and Boulevard), overtaking Gambrinus who previously held the 5th spot in years past.

While the Brewer’s Association “tweaks” the definition of a craft brewer every so often, below is the definition used for the 2018 compilation:

  • 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.
  • Brewer: Has a TTB Brewer’s Notice and makes beer.

All figures are based on companies that met the craft brewer definition for all or part of 2018.