The craft beer revolution kept charging ahead in 2012, when 12% more barrels were shipped than the year before, the sixth straight year of growth.
Of 27 major craft brewers–all of which saw some gain–16 had double-digit increases, according to industry research group Beer Marketer’s Insights’ Craft Brew News publication. In all, the craft beer industry enjoyed a 1.5 million barrel boost to 13.7 million barrels total.
Samuel Adams Boston Lager maker Boston Beer led the segment, with craft beer shipments rising as much as 3% to nearly 2.2 million barrels. But the company’s share of the industry has slid to 15.7% from 21% in 2008, according to the report.
Sierra Nevada, a brewer based in Chico, CA, is the second largest in the sector. Its 12.6% shipping gain to 966,000 barrels was its best advancement in more than a decade.
And Petaluma, CA-based brewer Lagunitas Brewing had a blockbuster year, with shipments booming 46% to 235,000 barrels.
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