WISCONSIN — Three Wisconsin craft breweries were recognized in the top 50 breweries in the country.
The Brewers Association released its list for top 2023 performance in early April.
New Glarus Brewing Co took the 11th slot, Stevens Point Brewery took the 19th spot and Minhas Craft Brewery took 29th.
Craft breweries continued to climb in 2023, according to the report, with an all-time high of 9,761 though openings decreased.
“2023 was another competitive and challenging year for small and independent brewers,” said Bart Watson, vice president of strategy and chief economist of the Brewers Association, in a press release. “Nevertheless, even as growth has downshifted, small brewers have proved quite resilient, as seen in the increase in number of breweries, relatively low closing rates, and gains in onsite sales and jobs.”
Over 23.4 million barrels of beer were produced by small and independent brewers in 2023, which was a decline from 2022. But craft’s market share grew by 13.3% last year.
Watson said there are pockets of growth and success stories within the top 50 list.
“Even in an era of slow growth, the strongest brands still resonate with beer drinkers, regardless of company size or location,” he said.
All three of the Wisconsin breweries on the list are independent craft brewing companies.
New Glarus opened in 1993 with the conversion of an abandoned warehouse. It became notable for its Spotted Cow beer.
Stevens Point Brewery has roots dating back to 1857. In 1973, Point Special was rated the number one American beer in a taste test. It’s the fifth oldest continuously operating brewery.
Located in Monroe, Wis. Minhas Craft Brewery has been family-owned for the last 160 years. It’s also home to the largest brewery memorabilia museum of its kind.
