Brewer Association Releases List of 50 Biggest Craft Brewers


The Brewers Association, the non-profit trade group that tabulates production statistics for the U.S. brewing industry released its annual lists of the top 50 craft and overall brewing companies in the U.S., based on 2012 beer sales volume.

Locally, two Pennsylvania breweries and one from Delaware made the list:

#13 Dogfish Head Craft Brewing Co.
#26 Victory Brewing  Co.
#50 Troegs Brewing Go.

Top 50-craft-beer-companies

Defining a craft brewery

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 6 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 brewer’s 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.

Brewers Association [Official Site]