Dogfish Head remained the 13th largest craft brewer in the annual ranking by the Brewers Association, a trade group representing smaller brewers. The brewer held the same sales volume position last year.
Of the top 50 overall brewing companies, 42 were craft brewing companies. Craft beer now accounts for nine percent of the overall market and is proving to be a headache for larger brewers.
Yuenglng, based in Pottsville, Pa.,, was ranked as the largest craft brewer.
Rule changes allowed Yuengling, which is America’s oldest family owned brewery, to join the list.
Boston Beer Co. (Sam Adams) ranks second followed by Sierra Nevada.
Victory Brewing Co., based in neighboring Chester County, Pa., ranks No. 29. Victory added a new brewery and is opening a brewpub in Kennett Square, Pa.
Dogfish Head has completed an expansion of its brewery in Milton, Del. It is also planning to expand its production of distilled beverages.
Many larger brewers are adding second breweries on or near the East Coast as craft beer sales continue to grow.
Dogfish has not expressed any desire to open other breweries and added only a few states to its distribution area after expanding capacity in Milton.
The company focuses on “ off-center” beer that does not always appeal to a mass market.
The largest brewer is Anheuser-Busch Inbev, followed by Miller Coors and Pabst. Yuengling ranks as the fourth largest brewer overall, with Boston fifth.
AB has been unable to get its smaller brewers, notably Wisconsin-based Leinenkugel, listed as craft brewers.
“The companies on this list include the vanguard of the craft industry,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. “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.”
Craft beers, which come with higher prices, are believed to have contributed to a dramatic change in the Pennsylvania distribution system.
Stores can now sell 12 packs, rather than cases of 24. Cases of Craft beer often cost more than $45.
Click here to see the complete ranking.
