The number of operating craft breweries continued to climb in 2022, reaching an all-time high of 9,552, including 2,035 microbreweries, 3,418 brewpubs, 3,838 taproom breweries, and 261 regional craft breweries. The total U.S. operating brewery count was 9,709, up from 9,384 in 2021. Throughout the year, there were 549 new brewery openings and 319 closings. Openings decreased for a second consecutive year, with the continued decline reflecting a more mature market. The closing rate increased in 2022 but continued to remain relatively low, at approximately 3%.
In addition, the Brewers Association also released its annual list of the top 50 producing craft brewing companies and overall brewing companies in the U.S., based on beer sales volume. Of the top 50 overall brewing companies in 2022, 40 were small and independent craft brewing companies.
“Breweries that managed to move up the list organically are often those that are adding incremental growth to the category,” said Watson. “Both beer and craft need to create new occasions and new beer lovers to find growth.”
1. D. G. Yuengling & Son, Inc, Pottsville, PA
2. Boston Beer Co, Boston, MA / Milton, DE
3. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, Chico, CA
4. Duvel Moortgat, Paso Robles, CA
Kansas City, MO / Cooperstown, NY
5. Gambrinus, Shiner, TX / Berkeley, CA
6. Artisanal Brewing Ventures, Downingtown, PA
Lakewood, NY / Brooklyn, NY
7. Stone Brewing Co, Escondido, CA
8. CANarchy, Longmont, CO / Tampa, FL / Salt Lake City, UT
Comstock, MI / Dallas, TX
9. Tilray Beer Brands, Atlanta, GA / Montauk, NY / San Diego, CA
10. Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, NY
11. Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR
12. New Glarus Brewing Co, New Glarus, WI
13. Athletic Brewing Co, Milford, CT
14. Matt Brewing Co, Utica, NY
15. Minhas Craft Brewery, Monroe, WI
16. Harpoon Brewery, Boston, MA
17. Gordon Biersch Brewing Co, San Jose, CA
18. Great Lakes Brewing Co, Cleveland, OH
19. Stevens Point Brewery, Stevens Point, WI
20. Allagash Brewing Co, Portland, ME
21. Georgetown Brewing Co, Seattle, WA
22. Odell Brewing Co, Fort Collins, CO
23. Rhinegeist Brewery, Cincinnati, OH
24. Three Floyds Brewing Co, Munster, IN
25. Troëgs Brewing Co, Hershey, PA
26. Summit Brewing Co, St. Paul, MN
27. Narragansett Brewing Co, Providence, RI
28. Craft Ohana, Kihei, HI / San Diego, CA
29. August Schell Brewing Co, New Ulm, MN
30. Kings & Convicts Brewing/Ballast Point, San Diego, CA
31. Pittsburgh Brewing Co, Pittsburgh, PA
32. Alaskan Brewing Co, Juneau, AK
33. Kona Brewing Co, Kailua-Kona, HI
34. Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, MD
35. Abita Brewing Co, Covington, LA
36. Fiddlehead Brewing, Shelburne, VT
37. Creature Comforts Brewing Co, Athens, GA
38. BrewDog Brewing Company, Canal Winchester, OH
39. Revolution Brewing, Chicago, IL
40. Lost Coast Brewery, Eureka, CA
41. Rogue Ales Brewery, Newport, OR
42. Surly Brewing Co, Minneapolis, MN
43. Ninkasi Brewing Co, Eugene, OR
44. Saint Arnold Brewing Co, Houston, TX
45. IndieBrew, Atlanta, GA / Nashville, TN
46. Shipyard Brewing Co, Portland, ME
47. Jack’s Abby Brewing, Framingham, MA
48. North Coast Brewing Co Inc, Fort Bragg, CA
49. Pizza Port Brewing Company, Carlsbad, CA
50. Made by the Water, New Orleans, LA / Apalachicola, FL /
Asheville, NC / Charleston, SC