Top 50 Craft and Overall Brewing Companies for 2011

The Brewers Association just released its annual lists of the Top 50 Craft and Overall Brewing Companies in the U.S. based on 2011 beer sales volume. With it's headquarters in San Antonio, the Gambrinus Company, owner of such brands as Shiner, Bridgeport, and Trumer Pils, earned the top Texas spot at number 4. However, with the exception of Shiner, their brands are actually brewed outside of Texas. Saint Arnold Brewing moved up this year to number 43 from 48 and is followed closely by Real Ale Brewing at number 45 who moved up from number 49.

As of March 26, 2012, the Brewers Association is aware of 250 brewery openings in 2011 (174 microbreweries and 76 brewpubs) and 37 brewery closings (12 microbreweries and 25 brewpubs).