Milton-based Dogfish Head fell a few spots in the annual ranking of the nation’s top craft brewers.
The 2015 list from the Brewers Association had Dogfish Head in 16th place, down from 13th place in 2014. Pottsville, PA-based Yuengling is the largest craft brewer, with Boston Beer (Samuel Adams) in second place.
Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione told the Brewbound website last year; the company would see only single-digit growth in 2015, due in part to a decision to not resort to discounting of its brews.
The company also had an extended search for the key position of vice president of sales.
The brewer also stayed away from the latest trend in craft brewers, canned packaging.
Capacity has been increasing in the craft brewing industry as West Coast and Colorado craft brewers open plants in East.
Also, industry behemoth Anheuser-Bush InBev has been buying up craft brewers as it works to convince antitrust officials that a megamerger with SAB Miller would not hinder competition.
The craft beer acquisitions have the potential of allowing the giant company to quickly expand sales territories for those brands through independent distributors that handle its legacy brands like Budweiser.
The added capacity at craft brewers has raised concerns about overcapacity.
Dogfish Head last year sold a minority stake to a private equity firm, a move that will give the brewer deeper pockets as competition intensifies.
To the north in Chester County, PA, smaller Victory Brewing became part of a two-brewery company combination by a private equity firm. The craft brewers remain independent, but will share marketing and other resources.
