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New Belgium, Left Hand Among Notables On 2013 Top 50 Craft Brewery List

Justinwkern
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Flickr-Creative Commons

Boston Beer, Sierra Nevada and New Belgium continue to have a hold on the craft beer market. The Fort Collins icon sits at number 3 on the top 50 U.S. Craft Brewing Companies based on sales volume. It’s not just the brewers of Fat Tire, five other Colorado beer makers can be found on the Brewers Association’s annual list.

While New Belgium’s rank held steady over 2012’s numbers, Left Hand Brewing Company of Longmont jumped five spots to 38th on the list. Just across town, Oskar Blues Brewing jumped 3 spots to number 24.

Breckenridge Brewing Company also moved one spot up to 40th. The two drops for Colorado brewers were Odell Brewing Company of Fort Collins and CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries. Odell dropped one spot to 34th in the 2013 rankings and the parent of the Rock Bottom Brewery slid 7 spots to land at 39.

Credit Brewers Association

“In 2013, craft breweries reached new all-time highs in production volume and dollar sales,” Bart Watson, the Brewers Association’s staff economist said in a statement. “Beer lovers continue to demand high-quality, fuller-flavored and local beers from small and independent craft breweries.”

And when it comes to all beers, not just the crafty suds?

Colorado brewers also held their own against the big boys. New Belgium Brewing held steady at eighth on the list of Top 50 Overall Brewing companies based on 2013 volume. Topping that list were brewing powerhouses Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors.

Oskar Blues Brewing rose three spots to 33rd while Odell Brewing held steady at 44th and Left Hand Brewing Company joined the list for the first time at 50.

According to the Brewers Association, craft brewers saw an 18 percent increase in volume for the total U.S. beer market in 2013, and contributed $33.9 billion to the U.S. economy.

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