‘Tiger’ breweries
The Brewers Association has rolled out a “Tiger List” for 2005: the top 10 craft brewers ranked by a combination of size and 2004 growth percentage. This is a grown up way of looking at the industry. It was intoxicating in the mid-90s to talk about 30% and 40% (or even 50%) growth in the numbers of breweries. And to point to breweries where sales soared year after year. But much of that happened because craft beer started from such a small base. If I sold one bottle of beer in 2003, two in 2004 and four this year I could argue my “brewery” is growing 100% per year . . .
“We put together the Tiger List by assessing both brewery size and 2004 growth percentage,” said Ray Daniels, director of craft beer marketing at the Brewers Association. “These ten have the best combined rank on those two criteria.” so we’ve got breweries with size and experience who are still growing. The BA list:
1. Widmer Brothers Brewing Co (Oregon)
2. Pyramid Breweries (Washington)
3. New Belgium Brewing Co (Colorado)
4. Boulevard Brewing Co (Missouri)
5. Deschutes Brewery (Oregon)
6. Kalamazoo Brewing Co (Michigan)
7. Magic Hat Brewing Co (Vermont)
8. Harpoon Brewery (Massachusetts)
9. Rogue Ales (Oregon)
10. Kona Brewery (Hawaii)
