Top 30 craft brands, year-to-date ending March 24, 2013

As a Wisconsinite who can never go the liquor store without seeing at least one customer leave with a sixer or a 12pack of NG Spotted Cow, I find it very interesting the Sampler Pack is their best selling SKU.

This reminds me, I need more Dancing Man and Edel Pils while they're in season.

 

I would never have guessed Sierra Nevada Pale Ale outsold Boston Lager, especially by that much. I wonder if they factor draft sales in or only packaged retail.

 

Damn Fat Tire, get out of the big boys club.

Would have expected to see SN seasonals do better than that. I think they're catching on, maybe next year will reflect that. Replace Ruthless Rye though.

 

No, Modern Brewery Age figures come from "Symphony IRI Group food/drug/convenience data" or, apparently in this case, just "Symphony IRI Group food data". It's a good rough snapshot when comparing off-premise beer brand sales but IIRC it does not include liquor store sales (where beer is sold in many states) or Walmart - or, as you note, on-premise bars and restaurants.

 

SNPA rules

 

Guilty as charged. Been making love to that beer this year.

 

Can't believe NG is in there. How can they possibly have a 22 ranked product in the country, with having distribution in WI only? Impressive.

 

I find the price differential data interesting. Stone IPA, Two Hearted, 60 Minute at $40+ per case (and all worth it) but, for example, Lagunitas IPA at less than $35. Some of that may de due to taxes in the distro footprint, but there seem to be some relative bargains on the list too.

 

Who is drinking #9? That beers mediocre at the brewery, turrible everywhere else, just turrible

 

People in WI drink A LOT

 

Well, they are the 17th biggest craft brewery by volume, so it shouldn't be too surprising. The stuff really is ubiquitous in WI - every liquor store, grocery store, and even gas station sells pretty much their full lineup, and that lineup consists largely of highly approachable, highly affordable, and usually excellent offerings.

Of course, it helps that Wisconsin is a very thirsty state. Can't wait to get to back to my home sate this summer and do my part boosting NG's numbers.

 

The same way they are the #17 craft brewery (total sales 2012) despite only distributing to WI.

 

I can't believe Long Hammer, #9, and Widmer Hefe still rank that high.

 

Really shows how regional popularity/availability can be enough to get you on the list. There are a bunch of beers on this list that are certainly not available to me.

Side note - who drinks SA Cherry Wheat?

 

My Aunt and probably a shit load of other people that aren't into "craft beer".

 

As jesskidden has pointed out, these stats may or do not include on-premise or liquor store sales, so it's flawed from the start.

 

How the hell is #9 on that list? BLEH!

...to avoid confusion, #9 being the beer #9 by Magic Hat.

 

Don't worry, lawsuit is coming your way!

 

Its not flawed, you just cant take it at an OVERALL list. Its very interesting to see what sells in supermarkets.