20 Top Selling Craft Breweries: Business Is Booming (PHOTOS)

Beer, brewski, liquid courage -- whatever you may call it, beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in the U.S. And while the big players like Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors have seen consistent declines in their billion-dollar sales, regional craft breweries continue to attract a growing fan base of quality, small batch brews.

In 2011, all top 25 craft breweries experienced increases in revenues. Craft breweries recorded 15 percent growth in volume of barrels shipped, compared to a 1.5 percent decrease in the beer industry overall, according to industry estimates from Beer Marketer's Insights. Currently, 1,900 craft breweries are in operation across the nation, with an additional 900 in the planning stages, making great beer a more accessible treat for the 95 million beer lovers in the U.S.

Craft brewers, defined by the Brewers Association as breweries that produce 6 million barrels of beer or less annually, often use traditional methods to create malts and incorporate unique adjuncts to enhance flavors. "A light American lager no longer satisfies every taste," said Julia Herz, the craft beer program director at the Brewers Association. "Americans have developed a discerning palate, so if it's not world class quality, it won't survive." In an age where the majority of Americans live within 10 miles of a brewery, Herz points out that a great shift in the industry has been the localization of beer, creating a greater following for businesses heavily involved in their communities.

While rich lagers and unique brands characterize the craft scene, the true ambassadors are the passionate brew masters behind these small businesses, many of whom started home brewing in their basements. "They are carving out their version of the American dream," Herz said. "Where there's a cause, there is a great willingness to roll up their sleeves and start a business."

According to industry estimates from Beer Marketer's Insights, here are the top 20 craft breweries in the U.S.

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• #20 - Great Lakes Brewing Company

  <strong>Location:</strong> Cleveland, Ohio <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 120,000 -- 31.9 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Dortmunder Gold

• #19 - Long Trail Brewing Company

  <strong>Location:</strong> Bridgewater Corners, Vt. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 120,000 -- 10.1 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Double Bag Ale

• #18 - Abita Brewing Company

  <strong>Location:</strong> Abita Springs, La. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 125,000 -- 14.7 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Abita Jockamo IPA

• #17 - Shipyard Brewing Company

  <strong>Location:</strong> Portland, Maine <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 129,000 -- 31.6 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Shipyard Export Ale

• #16 - Alaskan Brewing Company

  <strong>Location:</strong> Juneau, Alaska <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 130,000 -- 11.1 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Alaskan Amber

• #15 - Brooklyn Brewery

  <strong>Location:</strong> Brooklyn, N.Y. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 140,000 -- 29.6 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Brooklyn Lager

• #14 - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

  <strong>Location:</strong> Milton, Del. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 144,000 -- 19 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> 60 Minute IPA

• #13 - Stone Brewing Company

  <strong>Location:</strong> Escondido, Calif. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 149,000 -- 29.6 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Stone IPA, Arrogant Bastard Ale

• #12 - Boulevard Brewing Company

  <strong>Location:</strong> Kansas City, Mo. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 157,000 -- 5.4 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Single-Wide IPA, Chocolate Ale

• #11 - Lagunitas Brewing Company

  <strong>Location:</strong> Petaluma, Calif. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 165,000 -- 55.7 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Lagunitas IPA

• #10 - Harpoon Brewery

  <strong>Location:</strong> Boston, Mass. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 173,000 -- 15.3 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Harpoon IPA, UFO Hefeweizen

• #9 - Bell's Brewery

  <strong>Location:</strong> Galesburg, Mich. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 180,000 -- 16.9 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Bell's Lager, Java Stout

• #8 - Matt Brewing Company

  <strong>Location:</strong> Utica, N.Y. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 196,000 -- 7.7 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Saranac

• #7 - Deschutes Brewery

  <strong>Location:</strong> Bend, Ore. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 223,000 -- 9.9 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Red Chair NWPA, Mirror Pond Pale Ale

• #6 - Magic Hat Brewing Company

  <strong>Location:</strong> South Burlington, Vt. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 336,000 -- 4.3 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> #9, Single Chair

• #5 - Spoetzl Brewery

  <strong>Location:</strong> Shiner, Texas <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 487,000 -- 13 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Shiner Bock

• #4 - Craft Brew Alliance

  <strong>Location:</strong> Portland, Ore. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 635,000 -- 8.5 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Red Hook, Kona

• #3 - New Belgium Brewing

  <strong>Location:</strong> Fort Collins, Colo. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 713,000 -- 7.9 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands: </strong> Fat Tire, Lips of Faith

• #2 - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

  <strong>Location:</strong> Chico, Calif. <strong>Barrels Sold in 2011:</strong> 858,000 -- 9.2 percent increase since 2010 <strong>Popular Brands:</strong> Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Ovila Abbey Ales

• #1 - The Boston Beer Company

  Location: Jamaica Plain, Mass. Barrels Sold in 2011: 2,440,000 -- 8 percent increase since 2010 Popular brands: Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea

Comments

[mikala]

02:40 PM on 02/12/2013

You would think that with all of the success of craft beer they would try to keep prices down but they have gone from $6.00 to 10.00 a six pack in just a few short years.

[hk usp 45]

02:11 PM on 12/30/2012

Founders Breakfast Stout.

Mans second greatest accomplishment after domestication of dogs.

[NoTeahadist]

03:01 AM on 11/26/2012

The best Micros in the country are in Oregon and Washington State - over 350 to choose from. And most of the ingrediants are local.

[tiffh]

02:44 PM on 11/25/2012

Sam Adams is not a craft brewer anymore, you have mentioned all microbreweries and then throw a macrobrewery in there at the top? Good way to insult good beer.

[mikala]

02:39 PM on 02/12/2013

Not true it does produce more barrels but nothing even close to domestics and it still produces a lot of different beers on a limited basis. The same holds for Sierra Nevada, New Belgium.

[nopojoe]

12:02 AM on 11/16/2012

Nothing beats a pint pulled off draft. My local faves are Nikasi, Gilgamesh, Laurelwood and Seven Brides. But once you put them in the bottle, they lose a lot of flavor. So enjoy whatever you like thats available locally. Theres a 25% chance you will like it better than stuff trucked in from wherever.

[nopojoe]

11:56 PM on 11/15/2012

well, living in Portland OR, I have sampled 12 of the 20. Still, I must note that the category "top selling craft beer" and putting Sam Adams in the 'craft' category is misleading. It seems distribution is the secret to success, which requires you to partner up with a mega-brewery, which is like making a pact with the devil. Nor'westers pact with UBI comes to mind.
So I'm of the opinion that best selling is not necessarily linked to best tasting.

[Carlos Diaz]

09:42 AM on 09/27/2012

Since this is a list of the best selling craft brewery's Boston Brewing will appear # 1 with Sierra Nevada, New Belgium and Spoeztl following. I enjoy many styles of beer and my favorite pub features over 300 to choose from not to mention it is encouraged to try different beers. Since I am from San Antonio I am glad that Shiner is served at most of the dives in town otherwise I am stuck with Dos XX and taps of pond swill. Most of my friend drink Bud Light and they sneer at me for drinking the obscure beers I tend to favor yet I encourage them to try a Flying Dog in Heat, Fat Tire or Purple Haze to shake things up.

[DaveRhodeIsland]

01:59 PM on 08/05/2012

Hooray for Long Trail! Always good.

[yardog59]

06:21 PM on 07/27/2012

New Glarus (WI), Left Hand (CO), Potosi (WI) and Tommyknockers (CO) all have incredible beer. There are so many excellent Craft Beers, just wish I had time to try them all. Any hopped up IPA works for me.

[Donatella]

02:43 AM on 06/27/2012

The same beer articles for weeks on end. They need a full-time beer correspondent! Any openings?

[BeerLover]

09:13 AM on 06/03/2012

OMT!!!! (Oh my Tebow) Sam Adams is NOT Craft Brewery.....it's just the same ol same ol from from a brewery that tastes like american beer.

Just because it's the biggest seller, doesn't mean it's good or the best. IT just means they have lots of money to spend on marketing and influencing who distributes their product.

Here in Florida, we can't even GET half of the good beers available. I am so thankful for Total Wine, which carries a gorgeous array of beers.

SOUTHERN TIER BREWING is one of the best brewers I"ve tasted. Yes, pricey..... yes.....but oh so good. Shipyard, a great second, but only cause I love their Blueberry Smash soooo much.....otherwise.... haven't encountered anything particularly awesome from the above. But then, I'm not a fan of hoppy of spice laden beer.

Cheers to all!!

[SouthStJo]

01:53 PM on 11/14/2012

Actually Sam Adams would be a craft Brewery.
A craft Brewery is defined as one that produces less than 6 million barrels a year.

[Hellboy805]

04:40 PM on 05/29/2012

Someone please bring back RHEINGOLD!!!

[kchau10]

01:01 PM on 04/18/2012

Check out this blog post on Carib Beer! They are an international beer, but I think this is the next "drink on the beach" beer. Sorry Corona...! http://www.pavonefood.com/the-real-things/

[Dasher2]

10:01 PM on 04/01/2012

Wow! This is making me very, very thirsty. You guys talk beer, I have an errand to run.

[dhughes]

04:17 PM on 02/20/2012

I know Emperyian Ales located in Lincoln, Nebraska is not among the top 20 in sales, but it is first in my top three favorite craft breweries along with New Belgium and Boulevard. When I first started drinking beer in 1976, I never would have thought that my favorite beers now would be brewed in Lincoln, Kansas City, and Fort Collins!