Drink-a-Pint

There’s something about lists that just feels right. Maybe it’s how they bring order to a chaotic world? Maybe it’s because everyone likes a winner? Or, maybe it’s because lists are easy to post so I have to type even less than I normally do? No matter what it is, laziness aside, lists help make the world go ’round and lists about beer are no exception.

So, without further ado, Drink-a-Pint is proud to present: The Brewers Association Top 50 Breweries for 2007!

Maybe it’s my ever-present East Coast bias, but the top 50 craft brewery list was actually pretty interesting. While I expected Sam Adams to be at the top, I was surprised Magic Hat didn’t make the top 10 and, for some reason, I thought Victory was much more popular than its #35 ranking. And, since the brewery is right down the street from my office, I was definitely bummed to see Flying Fish was nowhere to be found (*sniff*).

So, who’s a “craft brewer” according to 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 50 Craft Brewing Companies by Beer Sales Volume
(Based on 2007 Sales)

1. Boston Beer Co.
2. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
3. New Belgium Brewing Co. Inc.
4. Spoetzl Brewery
5. Pyramid Breweries Inc.
6. Matt Brewing Co.
7. Deschutes Brewery, Inc.
8. Boulevard Brewing Co.
9. Full Sail Brewing Co.
10. Harpoon Brewery
11. Alaskan Brewing and Bottling Co.
12. Magic Hat Brewing Co. & Performing Arts Center
13. Anchor Brewing Co.
14. Bell’s Brewery, Inc.
15. Shipyard Brewing Co.
16. Summit Brewing Co.
17. Abita Brewing Co.
18. Gordon Biersch Brewing Co.
19. Brooklyn Brewery
20. Stone Brewing Co.
21. Rogue Ales / Oregon Brewing
22. Long Trail Brewing Co.
23. New Glarus Brewing Co.
24. Kona Brewing Co.
25. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
26. Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
27. Great Lakes Brewing Co./Ohio
28. The Lagunitas Brewing Co.
29. Flying Dog Brewery
30. Sweetwater Brewing Co.
31. Bridgeport Brewing Co.
32. Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurants
33. Odell Brewing Co.
34. BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery
35. Victory Brewing Co.
36. Mac and Jack’s Brewery
37. Lost Coast Brewery and Cafe
38. Big Sky Brewing Co.
39. Pete’s Brewing Co.
40. Otter Creek Brewing Co.
41. Karl Strauss Breweries
42. Breckenridge Brewery
43. Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
44. Anderson Valley Brewing Co.
45. Boulder Beer Co.
46. North Coast Brewing Co. Inc.
47. McMenamins
48. Utah Brewers Cooperative
49. Capital Brewing Co.
50. Blue Point Brewing Co.

Then, we’ve got the list of the top 50 overall breweries. Yeah, I know, we’ve got the excitement of AB, Miller and Coors at the top… big surprise. But, it’s interesting to see where the craft brewers sit when you look at the overall beer landscape. Sam Adams is #5 overall? Wow… New Belgium at #8? Interesting… Once you get past the big three, the craft brewers are all over the top 50 list.

Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies by Beer Sales Volume
(Based on 2007 Sales)

1. Anheuser- Busch Inc.
2. Miller Brewing Co.
3. Coors Brewing Co.
4. Pabst Brewing Co.
5. Boston Beer Co.
6. D.G. Yuengling and Son Inc.
7. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
8. New Belgium Brewing Co. Inc.
9. High Falls Brewing Co.
10. Spoetzl Brewery
11. Widmer Brothers Brewing Co.
12. Redhook Ale Brewery
13. Pyramid Breweries Inc.
14. Matt Brewing Co.
15. Minhas Craft Brewery
16. Deschutes Brewery, Inc.
17. Iron City Brewing Co.
18. Boulevard Brewing Co.
19. Full Sail Brewing Co.
20. Harpoon Brewery
21. Alaskan Brewing and Bottling Co.
22. Magic Hat Brewing Co. & Performing Arts Center
23. Anchor Brewing Co.
24. Bell’s Brewery, Inc.
25. Goose Island Beer Co.
26. August Schell Brewing Co.
27. Shipyard Brewing Co.
28. Summit Brewing Co.
29. Mendocino Brewing Co.
30. Abita Brewing Co.
31. Gordon Biersch Brewing Co.
32. Brooklyn Brewery
33. Stone Brewing Co.
34. Rogue Ales / Oregon Brewing
35. Long Trail Brewing Co.
36. New Glarus Brewing Co.
37. Kona Brewing Co.
38. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
39. Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
40. Great Lakes Brewing Co./Ohio
41. The Lagunitas Brewing Co.
42. Flying Dog Brewery
43. Sweetwater Brewing Co.
44. Bridgeport Brewing Co.
45. Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurants
46. Gluek Brewing Co.
47. Straub Brewery
48. Odell Brewing Co.
49. BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery
50. Victory Brewing Co.