Four newbies in 2017 ranking of top 50 craft breweries by sales volume

The Brewers Association (BA), the not-for-profit trade group representing small and independent craft brewers, released its annual lists of the Top 50 producing craft brewing companies and overall brewing companies in the United States, based on beer sales volume. Of the Top 50 overall brewing companies, 40 were small and independent craft brewing companies.

“In an increasingly competitive and mature marketplace, these brewing companies continue to lead and pave the path for small and independent craft brewers,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association.

Movement in the Top 10

• Gabrinus and Duvel Moortgag swapped spots.
• Stone Brewing jumped a spot to 8, the newly formed CANarchy (Oskar Blues, Perrin, Cigar City, Squatters and Wasatch) moved from 10 to 9, with Deschutes moving from 8 to 10.

Big movers

Previously unranked breweries making the list in 2017: Rhinegeist Brewery out of Cincinnati (33), Three Floyds Brewing out of Munster, Ind., (45), Saint Arnold Brewing out of Houston (46) and Wachusett Brewing Co. out of Westminster, Mass., (49)