America's Top 50 Craft Beer Makers Named

(RTTNews) - U.S. beer makers Anheuser-Busch, Miller-Coors and Pabst Brewing held the first three spots in the annual list of top 50 craft and overall U.S. brewing companies of 2014, followed by top craft brewing companies D.G. Yuengling & Son and Boston Beer at the fourth and fifth spots.

The annual list was prepared based on beer sales volume and released by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade group that represents small and independent craft brewers.

The list showed that 42 of the top 50 overall U.S. brewing companies were craft brewing companies. An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional, with annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less.

"The companies on this list include the vanguard of the craft industry. They are exposing new beer lovers to craft, opening new markets and creating opportunities for the entire category. As they continue to grow, so will the availability of innovative and high-quality beers produced for all to enjoy," said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association.

In another list of top 50 U.S. craft brewing companies, D.G. Yuengling & Son, Boston Beer and Sierra Nevada Brewing held the top three spots, followed by New Belgium Brewing and Gambrinus. Yuengling ousted Boston Beer this year to take the top spot.

According to another report in mid-March, craft brewers for the first time ever reached double-digit volume share of 11 percent of the marketplace in 2014.

The association says craft brewers produced 22.2 million barrels in 2014, and saw an 18 percent rise in volume and a 22 percent increase in retail dollar value, estimated at $19.6 billion and representing 19.3 percent market share.

The report stated that craft brewers are key in keeping the overall industry innovative and growing as the total beer market was up only 0.5 percent in 2014.

The shift in American beer culture towards craft brewers is expected to help them achieve their ambitious goal of 20 percent market share in volumes by 2020.

"Small and independent brewers are deepening their connection to local beer lovers while continuing to create excitement and attract even more appreciators," Watson stated in the report.