Dogfish Head remained in 13th place among the nation’s craft brewers in a ranking released by the Brewers Association, a group representing independent American craft brewers. Click on the link below for the complete top 50 ranking.
“In 2013, craft breweries reached new all-time highs in production volume and dollar sales,” said Bart Watson, staff economist, Brewers Association. “Beer lovers continue to demand high-quality, fuller-flavored and local beers from small and independent craft breweries.”
Dogfish Head has not aspired to crack the top 10 and only recently expanded its sales territory after finishing up an expansion of its brewery in Milton that includes a high-speed bottling line.
Dogfish Head ranks as the 20th largest brewery overall. It has mainstay brews like 60-Minute IPA, but also rolls out specialty brews at higher price points.
The strategy of offering craft beer allows the smaller brewers to avoid the price competition that sometimes shows up among the majors like Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors.
Both A-B and Miller Coors are foreign owned companies that have worked to come out with beer that takes aim at craft brewers. A-B markets Leinenkugel, a long-time Wisconsin brewer it acquired many years ago, as a craft brewer.
Meanwhile, Dogfish Head’s Milton brewery has become a tourist attraction and Dogfish Head is refitting an inn in nearby Lewes that will be aimed at VIPs and others taking doing business with the company or taking a tour.
The largest craft brewer is Boston Bear (Sam Adams) followed by Sierra Nevada and New Belgium. Colorado-based New Belgium has expanded into Delaware. Largest brewers overall are Anheuser-Bush, followed by MillerCoors, Pabst and Yuengling, a local favorite based in Pottsville, Pa.
