Friday Fun: The Top 50 Breweries in America

The Brewers Association's annual list of top 50 craft brewing companies is sure to inspire debate this St. Patrick's Day, and every other day ending in y.

1 minute read

March 17, 2017, 2:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Allagash Brewing

Allagash Brewing, located in Portland, Maine, made the list at #35. | Allagash Brewing / Flickr

The Brewers Association (BA), a non-profit trade group representing small and independent craft brewers, released its annual lists of the top 50 craft and overall brewing companies in the United States, based on beer sales volume, earlier this week.

The post announcing the new list includes a map of the two top 50 lists, which reflect a geographic diversity to reflect the diversity of flavors that can be found these days in beer.

Topping the list for craft breweries: 1) D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc, in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Anheuser-Busch, Inc, from St. Lous, Missouri, tops the overall list. Craft breweries populate the overall list too, however, showing just how far craft brewing has come in the domestic beer market. So Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, for instance, is found at number three on the craft list and number seven on the overall list.

Local newspapers picked up on the news of the list, showing how craft beer has also become a major source of civic pride. SFGate touted Northern California's seven inclusions on the list. The Denver Post celebrated Colorado's five breweries to make the list. The city of Boston received recognition from Boston.com for its two breweries to make the list.

As a recommended pairing with this month's Brewers Association list, we'd recommend an article that identified the U.S. locales with the highest density of microbreweries

Friday, March 17, 2017 in Brewers Association

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 16, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Passengers board an Amtrak train under a cloudy sky.

Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement

The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.

September 18, 2026 - Mass Transit

The Gross Reservoir, a large body of water surrounded by trees and mountains.

Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion

Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.

September 18, 2026 - Inside Climate News

A painted bus lane in NYC.

NYC DOT wants faster, more permanent street upgrades

The city is examining ways to build more concrete infrastructure without getting entangled in 'decades-long' projects.

September 21 - NYC Streetsblog

A woman looks at a utility bill.

'Something we’ve never seen before:' rising utility rates could strain city finances nationwide

Data centers, climate change and other factors have caused utility rates in the United States to increase by 38% since 2020.

September 21 - Smart Cities Dive

A person scuba diving in a coral reef off Guam.

Trump to overrule local leaders, lease millions of acres of America’s Pacific Island territories’ seafloors to mining companies

International law says that the Indigenous people of America’s territories have a right to prior and informed consent regarding projects that impact their countries.

September 21 - Grist