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20 Top Selling Craft Breweries: Business Is Booming (PHOTOS)

Good Things Come In Small Packages: Top Selling American Craft Breweries (PHOTOS)
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Associate Editor, HuffPost Small Business

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Beer, brewski, liquid courage -- whatever you may call it, beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in the U.S. And while the big players like Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors have seen consistent declines in their billion-dollar sales, regional craft breweries continue to attract a growing fan base of quality, small batch brews.

In 2011, all top 25 craft breweries experienced increases in revenues. Craft breweries recorded 15 percent growth in volume of barrels shipped, compared to a 1.5 percent decrease in the beer industry overall, according to industry estimates from Beer Marketer's Insights. Currently, 1,900 craft breweries are in operation across the nation, with an additional 900 in the planning stages, making great beer a more accessible treat for the 95 million beer lovers in the U.S.

Craft brewers, defined by the Brewers Association as breweries that produce 6 million barrels of beer or less annually, often use traditional methods to create malts and incorporate unique adjuncts to enhance flavors. "A light American lager no longer satisfies every taste," said Julia Herz, the craft beer program director at the Brewers Association. "Americans have developed a discerning palate, so if it's not world class quality, it won't survive." In an age where the majority of Americans live within 10 miles of a brewery, Herz points out that a great shift in the industry has been the localization of beer, creating a greater following for businesses heavily involved in their communities.

While rich lagers and unique brands characterize the craft scene, the true ambassadors are the passionate brew masters behind these small businesses, many of whom started home brewing in their basements. "They are carving out their version of the American dream," Herz said. "Where there's a cause, there is a great willingness to roll up their sleeves and start a business."

According to industry estimates from Beer Marketer's Insights, here are the top 20 craft breweries in the U.S.

Best-Selling Craft Beer
#20 - Great Lakes Brewing Company(01 of20)
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Location: Cleveland, OhioBarrels Sold in 2011: 120,000 -- 31.9 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Dortmunder Gold (credit:Uptown Beer Guild)
#19 - Long Trail Brewing Company(02 of20)
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Location: Bridgewater Corners, Vt.Barrels Sold in 2011: 120,000 -- 10.1 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Double Bag Ale (credit:tasty-takes.com)
#18 - Abita Brewing Company(03 of20)
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Location: Abita Springs, La.Barrels Sold in 2011: 125,000 -- 14.7 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Abita Jockamo IPA (credit:thepintglass.wordpress.com)
#17 - Shipyard Brewing Company(04 of20)
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Location: Portland, MaineBarrels Sold in 2011: 129,000 -- 31.6 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Shipyard Export Ale (credit:Shipyard Brewing Company)
#16 - Alaskan Brewing Company(05 of20)
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Location: Juneau, AlaskaBarrels Sold in 2011: 130,000 -- 11.1 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Alaskan Amber (credit:Alaskan Brewing Company)
#15 - Brooklyn Brewery(06 of20)
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Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.Barrels Sold in 2011: 140,000 -- 29.6 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Brooklyn Lager (credit:happy-hour.com)
#14 - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery(07 of20)
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Location: Milton, Del.Barrels Sold in 2011: 144,000 -- 19 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: 60 Minute IPA (credit:tiltingsuds.wordpress.com)
#13 - Stone Brewing Company(08 of20)
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Location: Escondido, Calif.Barrels Sold in 2011: 149,000 -- 29.6 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Stone IPA, Arrogant Bastard Ale
#12 - Boulevard Brewing Company(09 of20)
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Location: Kansas City, Mo.Barrels Sold in 2011: 157,000 -- 5.4 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Single-Wide IPA, Chocolate Ale (credit:sudsandbubbles.wordpress.com)
#11 - Lagunitas Brewing Company(10 of20)
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Location: Petaluma, Calif.Barrels Sold in 2011: 165,000 -- 55.7 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Lagunitas IPA (credit:Lagunitas Brewing Company)
#10 - Harpoon Brewery(11 of20)
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Location: Boston, Mass.Barrels Sold in 2011: 173,000 -- 15.3 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Harpoon IPA, UFO Hefeweizen (credit:Flickr: BohemianTraveler)
#9 - Bell's Brewery(12 of20)
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Location: Galesburg, Mich.Barrels Sold in 2011: 180,000 -- 16.9 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Bell's Lager, Java Stout (credit:Bell's Brewery)
#8 - Matt Brewing Company(13 of20)
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Location: Utica, N.Y.Barrels Sold in 2011: 196,000 -- 7.7 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Saranac (credit:Matt Brewing Company)
#7 - Deschutes Brewery(14 of20)
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Location: Bend, Ore.Barrels Sold in 2011: 223,000 -- 9.9 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Red Chair NWPA, Mirror Pond Pale Ale (credit:beerandscifi.com)
#6 - Magic Hat Brewing Company(15 of20)
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Location: South Burlington, Vt.Barrels Sold in 2011: 336,000 -- 4.3 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: #9, Single Chair (credit:danthemantrivia.wordpress.com)
#5 - Spoetzl Brewery(16 of20)
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Location: Shiner, TexasBarrels Sold in 2011: 487,000 -- 13 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Shiner Bock (credit:AP)
#4 - Craft Brew Alliance(17 of20)
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Location: Portland, Ore.Barrels Sold in 2011: 635,000 -- 8.5 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Red Hook, Kona (credit:Craft Brew Alliance)
#3 - New Belgium Brewing(18 of20)
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Location: Fort Collins, Colo.Barrels Sold in 2011: 713,000 -- 7.9 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Fat Tire, Lips of Faith (credit:New Belgium Brewing)
#2 - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.(19 of20)
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Location: Chico, Calif.Barrels Sold in 2011: 858,000 -- 9.2 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Ovila Abbey Ales (credit:donosborn.com)
#1 - The Boston Beer Company(20 of20)
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Location: Jamaica Plain, Mass.Barrels Sold in 2011: 2,440,000 -- 8 percent increase since 2010Popular brands: Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea (credit:Flickr: hmerinomx)

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