Big Sky Brewing Co. in the top 50
According to a press release from the Brewer’s Association, our own Big Sky Brewing Co. is one of the top 50 craft breweries in America.
They are number 38 to be exact, one above Pete’s Brewing Co., and one below Lost Coast Brewing Co.
The ratings are based on 2007 beer sales by volume.
Boston Beer Co. and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. are the top two breweries.
Prost,
GG
I found some of the stats interesting. Red Hook was in the top 50, but not in the top 50 CRAFT breweries. Same for Goose Island, in the top 50, but not CRAFT. I want to see that spreadsheet that must have been put together on these stats… but I think the key may be in the definitions…
Craft brewing industry definitions (from the Brewers Association)
An American craft brewer is small, independent, and traditional.
Small: Annual production of beer less than 2 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition.
Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer.
Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50% of it’s volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.
and, and, and… for those math majors and logical types that means all conditions must be met to be a craft brewery. Red Hook loses its “independence” based on ownership by AB. I cannot find out exactly why Goose Island is not considered craft. I want that spreadsheet!