The Brewers Association—has released their annual list of the top 50 brewing companies in the United States by production. While the Brewers Association only represents small and independent American brewers, this list is of the overall top 50, of which 40 were small and independents. The top 50 also comes with the caveat that the numbers were based on 2019 beer sales volume and things are already changing rapidly with the Coronavirus pandemic.

“Although 2020 will be a markedly different year than 2019 for the craft brewing market, these companies are well positioned to help the craft category weather the current market uncertainty and rebound with the flavor, variety, and innovation that beer lovers have come to expect from small brewers,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. 

A State of the Industry report will be presented via webinar in mid-April. The Brewers Association’s full 2019 industry analysis, which shows regional trends and sales by individual breweries, will be published in the May/June issue of The New Brewer®, available in May 2020. 

¹ FIGURE BASED ON COMPANIES THAT MET THE CRAFT BREWER DEFINITION FOR ALL OR PART OF 2019. AN AMERICAN CRAFT BREWER IS A SMALL AND INDEPENDENT BREWER. 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.

View a list of brands included under the companies in the overall brewing category. 

About the Brewers Association

The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 5,400-plus U.S. breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®, SAVOR™: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew Con™, National Homebrew Competition, and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The New Brewer® magazine, and Brewers Publications® is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S. Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com® and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association® and the free Brew Guru® mobile app. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.