8 California Craft Breweries Rank Among Best In Nation

San Diego CA

04 April, 2021

1:16 PM

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CALIFORNIA — Before the pandemic upended life on the West Coast, California's craft beer scene was on the up and up, with new breweries seemingly popping up everywhere. As the state reopens, many beer enthusiasts will surely be glad to return to these hoppy watering holes. For those looking for some of the best breweries across the state and the nation, the Brewers Association just named the 50 best brewers in the U.S. — and eight California brewers made the cut. The not-for-profit trade association released two lists on Tuesday of the top 50 breweries — a ranking for craft breweries and a 'best overall breweries' list. Both rankings are based on sales volume, the organization said, though beer sales changed significantly over the past year. "The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed where Americans purchased alcohol in 2020," said Bart Watson, a chief economist for the association. "These businesses also saw variation in performance based on geography and business model, with different parts of the country seeing very different beer trends, and draught-heavy breweries suffering." Of the eight Golden State brewers that made the list, it's unsurprising that Sierra Nevada Brewing snagged the top spot, landing on no. 3 nationally. This quintessential California beer empire was founded by Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi, who first began brewing this well-known beer in Chico in 1976, where the company is still headquartered today. Stone Brewing, known for its signature smirking gargoyle on each IPA, was ranked no. 9 nationally. Stone Brewing was founded in 1996 by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in San Diego. It is the ninth-largest craft brewer in the country, with beers on tap in each state, according to the company website. Another Golden State beer that made the top 50 was Modern Times, ranking no. 33 nationally. Although this company just launched in 2013, it has quickly risen as one of the state's best "modern" brewers. Modern Times first opened in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego as a tasting room. The Gambrinus Company ranked no. 5 across the U.S. Although Gambrinus' beers are sold out of the famed Trumer Brewery in Berkeley, the beer itself is brewed in San Antonio, Texas. Here are the top eight craft breweries in California, according to the Brewers Association: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Chico CA (no. 3 nationally)Duvel Moortgat - Paso Robles, CA (no. 4 nationally)Gambrinus - Berkeley, CA (no. 5 nationally)Stone Brewing - Escondido CA (no. 9 nationally) Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. - San Jose CA (no. 27 nationally) 21st Amendment Brewery - Bay Area CA (no. 34 nationally)Lost Coast Brewery - Eureka CA (no. 38 nationally) Modern Times Beer - San Diego CA (no. 40 nationally) The Brewers Association represents more than 5,400 U.S. small and independent craft breweries. The organization's independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that highlights beers by small and independent craft brewers. >> Read the full Brewers Association report here.