The Brewers Association, which represents America’s small and independent breweries, has released its annual review of production figures for the U.S. craft brewing industry. This report includes a ranking of the country’s largest craft breweries by production, a key indicator for spotting emerging beer trends.
In 2023, the number of breweries reached a record high of 9,683, providing jobs for 191,421 individuals. Despite a challenging year for the craft beer sector, with overall production declining by 1.0% compared to 2022, the industry saw more new brewery openings than closures, although the rate of new openings has significantly slowed in recent years. The premium pricing of craft beer led to an increase in sales dollars, even with the slight drop in production volume.
Bart Watson, the Brewers Association’s chief economist, commented in a telephone interview, “These figures indicate that while craft beer isn’t experiencing the explosive growth of five or six years ago, the industry remains robust.” He also pointed out that, regarding the list of the largest craft breweries, “Many breweries are expanding through strategic partnerships. Additionally, some are innovating with new and unique approaches that are proving effective for growth.”
The 50 Largest Craft Breweries in America are:
1. D.G. Yuengling and Son Inc – Pottsville, PA
2. Boston Beer Co – Boston, MA and Milton, DE
3. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co – Chico, CA
4. Breckenridge, CO; and Patchogue, NY
5. Gambrinus – Shiner, TX and Berkeley, CA
6. Tilray Beer Brands – Atlanta, GA; Montauk, NY; San Diego, CA; Bend, OR; Seattle, WA; Portland
7. Artisanal Brewing Ventures – Downingtown, PA; Lakewood, NY; and Brooklyn, NY
8. Brooklyn Brewery – Brooklyn, NY
9. Monster Brewing – Longmont, CO; Tampa, FL; Salt Lake City, UT; Comstock, MI; and Dallas, TX
10. Athletic Brewing Company – Milford, CT
11. New Glarus Brewing Co – New Glarus, WI
12. Deschutes Brewery – Bend, OR
13. Matt Brewing Co – Utica, NY
14. Gordon Biersch Brewing Co – San Jose, CA
15. Allagash Brewing Company – Portland, ME
16. Georgetown Brewing Co – Seattle, WA
17. Great Lakes Brewing Company – Cleveland, OH
18. Harpoon Brewery – Boston, MA
19. Stevens Point Brewery – Stevens Point, WI
20. Three Floyds Brewing – Munster, IN
21. Pittsburgh Brewing Co – Pittsburgh, PA
22. Rhinegeist Brewery – Cincinnati, OH
23. Narragansett Brewing Co – Pawtucket, RI
24. August Schell Brewing Company – New Ulm, MN
25. Odell Brewing Co – Fort Collins, CO
26. Craft ‘Ohana (Maui/Modern Times) – Kihei, HI and San Diego, CA
27. Troegs Brewing Co – Hershey, PA
28. Fiddlehead Brewing – Shelburne, VT
29. Minhas Craft Brewery – Monroe, WI
30. Kings & Convicts Brewing – San Diego, CA
31. Alaskan Brewing Co. – Juneau, AK
32. Kona Brewing Hawaii – Kailua-Kona, HI
33. Abita Brewing Co – Covington, LA
34. Creature Comforts Brewing Co. – Athens, GA
35. Great Frontier Holdings – Eugene, OR and Portland, OR
36. BrewDog Brewing Co – Canal Winchester, OH
37. Summit Brewing Co – St. Paul, MN
38. Jack’s Abby Brewing, LLC – Framingham, MA
39. Revolution Brewing – Chicago, IL
40. Montucky Cold Snacks – Bozeman, MT
41. Saint Arnold Brewing Co – Houston, TX
42. Lost Coast Brewery – Eureka, CA
43. Surly Brewing Company – Minneapolis, MN
44. Rogue Ales Brewery – Newport, OR
45. United States Beverage LLC – Salt Lake City, UT and Elmsford, NY
46. Shipyard Brewing Co – Portland, ME
47. Pizza Port – Carlsbad, CA
48. Coronado Brewing Co – Coronado, CA
49. Drake’s Brewing Co – San Leandro, CA
50. IndieBrew – Atlanta, GA and Nashville, TN
Brand Awareness
Bud Light and Corona Extra lead the pack in brand awareness in the United States, with 88% and 87% recognition respectively. Sharing the third position are Budweiser and Heineken, both recognized by 86% of surveyed consumers. Other notable beer brands with strong recognition in the U.S. include Coors, Miller, Busch, and Michelob Ultra. In contrast, brands like Brooklyn Brewery and New Belgium Brewing have lower visibility, each recognized by less than one-third of American consumers, indicating significant potential for growth in brand awareness.
Brand Popularity
Bud Light leads the beer popularity charts in the United States, with 33% of respondents expressing a preference for it. Close behind is Corona Extra, with Budweiser and Heineken tied for third place. Blue Moon also ranks highly, following these top brands. In terms of consumer preference, brands like Beck’s, Natural Light, and Pabst Blue Ribbon lag behind, indicating a lower level of popularity among U.S. beer drinkers.
Brand Consumption
AB InBev dominates the U.S. beer market, with its top three brands—Bud Light, Budweiser, and Corona Extra—leading in consumption share. Despite Brooklyn Brewery’s lower brand awareness, it holds a noteworthy consumption share, with 22% of those familiar with the brand choosing to drink it. This highlights AB InBev’s significant presence in the beer industry, while also showcasing Brooklyn Brewery’s strong performance among its aware audience.
