Four Ohio-based breweries ranked among the largest craft brewers in the U.S. last year.
The Brewers Association, a Boulder, Colorado-based group, released its list of the top 50 craft brewing companies and top 50 overall for 2024.
“While distribution is only becoming more competitive, the top 50 list reflects some of the strongest, most emblematic companies in craft beer,” Matt Gacioch, staff economist for the Brewers Association, said in a prepared statement. “Enduring brands continue to resonate with drinkers — regardless of size or location. In 2024, eight new breweries moved into the top 50 craft list since the year prior — evidence that brewers are still finding ways to lean into what’s working.”
The Brewers Association ranks breweries each year based on the number of barrels produced.
Empty cans snake along conveyer at Fat Head’s Brewery in Middleburg Heights. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.
Which Ohio craft brewing companies ranked the highest?
Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati earned 16th place for craft brewers and 27th overall. Rhinegeist, known for its Truth IPA, also passed Great Lakes Brewing Co. in Cleveland in the rankings, and now holds the honor of being the largest Ohio-based craft brewery.
It’s been a meteoric rise for Rhinegeist, which opened in 2013. Five years ago, the brewery was ranked 26th.
“Sixteenth overall craft brewery by volume and number ONE in Ohio!” the brewery posted on Facebook. “We couldn’t have done it without all of the Rhinegeist fans out there — THANK YOU for choosing us!”
Great Lakes — the oldest craft brewery in Ohio — fell one spot to 18th for craft brewers and was ranked 29th overall. BrewDog Brewing Co. in suburban Columbus was 30th among craft breweries and 41st overall.
And Fat Head’s Brewery — which has a production brewery and restaurant in Middleburg Heights and brewpubs in North Olmsted and suburban Canton — was 48th. It was the first time Fat Head’s cracked the rankings.
“An incredible achievement made possible by the hard work and dedication of our amazing and committed team,” Fat Head’s posted to Facebook.
Meanwhile, the Massachusetts-based Boston Beer Co., which operates a production brewery and a separate brewery and taproom in Cincinnati, was No. 2 among craft breweries behind only D.G. Yuengling and Son, and 10th overall.
Anheuser-Busch Inc. and MolsonCoors — which both have breweries in Ohio — were first and second, respectively, among the top 50 overall brewing companies. Anheuser-Busch Inc. has a brewery in Columbus, and MolsonCoors has a brewing site in Trenton.
How much craft beer was produced in 2024?
Craft brewers made 23.1 million barrels of beer last year, according to the Brewers Association. It was 4% less than the previous year.
Who are the Brewer Association’s largest craft brewing companies of 2024?
Here’s a look at the top 10 craft breweries last year:
D.G. Yuengling and Son Inc: Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Boston Beer Co.: Boston and Cincinnati
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.: Chico, California
Tilray Beer Brands: New York
Duvel Moortgat USA: Cooperstown, New York
Matt Brewing Co.: Utica, New York
Athletic Brewing Company: Milford, Connecticut
Brooklyn Brewery: Brooklyn, New York
Monster Brewing: Longmont, Colorado
Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati ranked as the 16th largest brewery by volume in the U.S. in 2024, according to the Brewers Association
How many craft breweries are in the U.S.?
In 2024, the number of craft breweries nationwide was 9,612, made up of 1,934 microbreweries, 3,389 brewpubs, 3,695 taproom breweries and 266 regional craft breweries.
The number of craft breweries declined nationwide last year for the first time since 2005.
“In a mature market, not every year is going to be defined by substantial growth,” Gacioch said in a prepared statement. “While progress may not come in additional production volume, it can still come in honing operations, business practices, and world-class beer. Even in this challenging environment, small brewers have demonstrated that they have the skills and resilience to fight through this period to be better positioned for the months and years ahead.”
Where are the top 50 brewing companies overall?
The Brewers Association also put together a list of the top 50 overall brewing companies for 2024. Here’s how the top 10 stacked up:
Anheuser-Busch: St. Louis, Missouri
Heineken USA: White Plains, New York
Pabst Brewing Co.: Los Angeles
Diageo: Norwalk, Connecticut
D.G. Yuengling and Son: Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Kirin-Lion: Fort Collins, Colorado
FIFCO USA: Rochester, New York
Boston Beer Co.: Boston and Cincinnati
Largest breweries in the U.S. by Rick Armon on Scribd
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Brewers Association releases 2024 rankings of biggest craft breweries